Students urged to play more sport

March 10th, 2010 by admin No comments »
The National Lottery is funding the drive with £10 million in a bid to encourage more than 100,000 students across the UK to play sport at least three times per week.
A recent study revealed that fewer than three in 10 students play sport on a regular basis, and that graduates spend twice as much time in pubs as they do on pitches.
According to the survey, carried out by funding provider Sport England, nearly one fifth (18%) of the 1,005 students polled admitted dedicating less than one hour to sport each week.
But more than one in four (26%) said they spent up to 10 hours in the pub.
Meanwhile, nearly half of graduates (47%) said they put on weight after starting university, with more than a third gaining up to a stone.
Sport England aims to reverse these trends by creating opportunities for the 72% of graduates who said they would like to spend more time on the pitch.
Experts believe boosting participation in sport among students and reducing the number of people who drop out in their late teens and early 20s will help achieve the goal of getting a million people playing more sport by 2012-13.
Jennie Price, chief executive of Sport England, said: “We know that young adults who are playing sport regularly by the time they leave university are likely to stick with it for the rest of their lives.”

PintThe National Lottery is funding the drive with £10 million in a bid to encourage more than 100,000 students across the UK to play sport at least three times per week.

A recent study revealed that fewer than three in 10 students play sport on a regular basis, and that graduates spend twice as much time in pubs as they do on pitches.

According to the survey, carried out by funding provider Sport England, nearly one fifth (18%) of the 1,005 students polled admitted dedicating less than one hour to sport each week.

But more than one in four (26%) said they spent up to 10 hours in the pub.

Meanwhile, nearly half of graduates (47%) said they put on weight after starting university, with more than a third gaining up to a stone.

Sport England aims to reverse these trends by creating opportunities for the 72% of graduates who said they would like to spend more time on the pitch.

Experts believe boosting participation in sport among students and reducing the number of people who drop out in their late teens and early 20s will help achieve the goal of getting a million people playing more sport by 2012-13.

Jennie Price, chief executive of Sport England, said: “We know that young adults who are playing sport regularly by the time they leave university are likely to stick with it for the rest of their lives.”

How to run uphill

March 4th, 2010 by admin No comments »

RunningUphillRunning is a favourite cardio activity of many and sometimes when you are in the zone and pounding out those miles in your fitness clothes and supportive running shoes you can obtain that coveted runner’s nirvana. Yet if you are headed there and suddenly are met with one monster of a hill, you could be left crouching forward, slowing down, and by the peak look like something akin to a person crawling to the top. Hill running is obviously much different from that done on the forgiving flat surfaces, it requires not only more power from your quads and overall exertion but also a specific form.

Getting to the top of that beast of a hill is going to be made much easier if you know the best way to do it, and here are the key points you need to hone your focus on. That way whether you are just out for the sheer enjoyment of the activity in your gym clothes or in a fierce competitive race you can get to the top much faster and beat out any opponent; even if it is only you.

Firstly, a common mistake that people will do is that they hunch over and keep their arms tucked in and this then makes it impossible for them to get adequate knee lift. While you do want to naturally tilt forward into the direction of the hill, you still want to have a straight back. This will give you the benefit of momentum but will still allow you to generate the most power from each stride. Then in terms of that stride you will want to make it shorter than you would if you were on flat lands. A faster turnover rate is critical to keep up your momentum and you also want to think about each push off of your foot like you are ‘toeing off’. This means that you will land on the balls of your feet, with as little heel contact as possible, and then pushing off as quickly and forcefully as you can.

 When it comes to your arms, you don’t want to have tiny little movements but instead keep your elbows at a ninety degree angle and really swing them. They should extend in front up to about chest level and behind you think about ‘picking your pocket’ and they should reach about where a pocket would be if you had one on your shorts. Then do your best to make each motion as fast as possible; naturally the faster you swing your arms the faster your feet will turn over and get you to the top the quickest. And remember that you are not done until you are actually up and over that hill; don’t ease up before then or you will lose all of your momentum. This is known as running through the hill and as you crest it take advantage of gravity and fly down the other side.

Exercise project for Scots launched

March 2nd, 2010 by admin No comments »
An exercise campaign for Scots has been launched with the aim of using the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games as a motivation for increasing exercise.
The Active Nation campaign urges adults to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week and a new website provides ideas on becoming more active.
Even small doses of exercise can help, said Public Health Minister Shona Robison at the launch in Glasgow where a 50-strong dance troupe demonstrated different forms of exercise.
Ms Robison said the initiative would build upon recent efforts by the Scottish Government to tackle alcohol abuse, reduce smoking and encourage healthy eating.
She said the campaign and the Scottish government’s recently launched obesity strategy and plans to tackle alcohol misuse, further reduce smoking levels and encourage healthy diet, demonstrates our determination to get to grips with these most pressing of issues.
Ms Robison said the campaign was “about getting active, having fun and feeling good. Managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients properly from the beginning can divert a lot of hospital admissions, and managing the disease in the community is far cheaper than in hospital.”

Excercise ClubsAn exercise campaign for Scots has been launched with the aim of using the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games as a motivation for increasing exercise.

The Active Nation campaign urges adults to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week and a new website provides ideas on becoming more active.

Even small doses of exercise can help, said Public Health Minister Shona Robison at the launch in Glasgow where a 50-strong dance troupe demonstrated different forms of exercise.

Ms Robison said the initiative would build upon recent efforts by the Scottish Government to tackle alcohol abuse, reduce smoking and encourage healthy eating.

She said the campaign and the Scottish government’s recently launched obesity strategy and plans to tackle alcohol misuse, further reduce smoking levels and encourage healthy diet, demonstrates our determination to get to grips with these most pressing of issues.

Ms Robison said the campaign was “about getting active, having fun and feeling good. Managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients properly from the beginning can divert a lot of hospital admissions, and managing the disease in the community is far cheaper than in hospital.”

Become a fitness instructor, here’s how…

February 27th, 2010 by admin No comments »

FitnessInstructorSo, you think you’ve got the moves to whip people in shape; get them sweating away those pounds and carving out that muscle tone like a champ? Sure, you’ve conquered your own fitness goals and are ready to share your workout prowess with the rest of the world. Well, before you suit up in your fitness clothes and get to yelling out orders, there are a few things you need to do to become a certified fitness instructor.

You need to first think about your previous experience; if you have already worked in a gym or within the fitness industry you can work to gain certification in the form of a National Vocational Personal Trainer Qualification. Yet if you have no prior experience you will instead want to go into a course termed a Vocational Related Personal Trainer Qualification. Both will give you the ability to work as a fitness instructor but will target different skills. That being said, you will then need to begin taking classes to earn your certification. You will need to have first passed a Level 2 Gym Instructor class that has been recognized as reputable by the CYQ, Active IQ, or other association that is listed on the REPs main website. Once you have then passed that you will work to finish a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course. Upon graduation you will then be able to start working the muscles of all the people who seek your guidance. 

Yet the world of health and fitness and then workout classes is wide and diverse; there are many options you have in terms of individualized focus. Do you want to be a personal trainer, an aerobics instructor, or even work more in line with nutrition and weight loss? These are all things you need to consider when looking to don that gym clothing and get to teaching. 

When you have your specific goal in mind you can then take additional classes more geared towards that line of work. There is a growing market for fitness instructors and it is a competitive field; for this reason it is always best to have a full resume with not only the fundamental and functional training but then specialist components so that you are better able to assess a broad range of topics. 

Whether you plan on becoming a freelance instructor or work for a certain gym and teach a class, all of that can be achieved with enough motivation to complete the required classes. You can then only improve your business and career options by following up with supplemental lessons and earning more certifications to be as well rounded and the best instructor you can.

£10m for rural sports projects

February 19th, 2010 by admin No comments »
Sports projects in rural communities are to benefit from a £10 million National Lottery fund.
The lowest rates of participation in sports were found in rural areas, Sport England said.
Now selected projects around the country will receive a share of the Rural Communities Fund, distributed by Sport England, to get more people in these areas involved in sport.
Sport England chair Richard Lewis believes the project can help with the 2012 Olympic legacy aim of getting one million people playing more sport.
He said: “Everyone should have the chance to find the sport they really enjoy.
“The projects we’re investing in today will help us tackle the barriers to participation in rural communities, by delivering sustainable sporting opportunities to thousands of people.”
Projects backed in funding include:
:: £598,952 for Devon Active Villages, which aims to get 30,000 people from 156 villages across Devon playing different sports including rugby, table tennis, hockey, cricket, football and cycling.
:: £601,952 for Derbyshire Village Games, whose target is to get 60 villages and 12,000 participants involved in sporting events over the next three years.
:: £1.675 million for The SportsHub@Treviglas in Newquay – a new sports centre which is to provide high-quality facilities to over 15,000 people living in highly-deprived rural areas.

Sports ProjectsSports projects in rural communities are to benefit from a £10 million National Lottery fund.

The lowest rates of participation in sports were found in rural areas, Sport England said.

Now selected projects around the country will receive a share of the Rural Communities Fund, distributed by Sport England, to get more people in these areas involved in sport.

Sport England chair Richard Lewis believes the project can help with the 2012 Olympic legacy aim of getting one million people playing more sport.

He said: “Everyone should have the chance to find the sport they really enjoy.

“The projects we’re investing in today will help us tackle the barriers to participation in rural communities, by delivering sustainable sporting opportunities to thousands of people.”

Projects backed in funding include:

:: £598,952 for Devon Active Villages, which aims to get 30,000 people from 156 villages across Devon playing different sports including rugby, table tennis, hockey, cricket, football and cycling.

:: £601,952 for Derbyshire Village Games, whose target is to get 60 villages and 12,000 participants involved in sporting events over the next three years.

:: £1.675 million for The SportsHub@Treviglas in Newquay – a new sports centre which is to provide high-quality facilities to over 15,000 people living in highly-deprived rural areas.

10 Weird food events to Improve Fitnesss

February 17th, 2010 by Lyndon No comments »

What goes through the mind of someone who uses a dead goose to help keep fit? Or even a giant pumpkin and what’s with gravy wrestling? If you are a foodie you may want to look away, but if you find food a fun thing to keep fit with, you may want to take notes.

1. Giant Pumpkin Kayaking
Tualatin, Oregon, USA

Giant Pumpkin Kayaking in Tualatin, Oregon

Giant Pumpkin Kayaking in Tualatin, Oregon

Photo : www.funnyphotos.net.au

Held in October
Started in 2003, the Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, pits locally grown giant pumpkins in a race around a lake. The event is organised by Carl Switzer, Tualatin’s parks and recreation manager, who estimates that about 2,500 to 3,000 spectators will turn up to watch a day of competitive pumpkin paddling.

Qualifying size for race eligibility is 600 lbs, but most of the giant pumpkins competing in the regatta can weigh in at twice that (the biggest pumpkin was 1408 lbs). Competitors must carve and hollow out their giant pumpkin, get in them, and race them as if they were kayaks. There are three heats, about 12 to 20 racers each, plus a capture-the-flag competition. The race is down to a buoy and back, about a quarter-mile round trip, and the winners generally finish in about 10 minutes.

Racing advise from Switzer : “Once you get used to the tippiness, it’s just a matter of paddling hard and trying not to spin in circles, because pumpkins aren’t really designed to go straight.”

The Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers (PGVG), are the main sponsors behind the West Coast Regatta, and have the honour of being paddlers in the first heat. Once they have competed, they must hand over the pumpkins to new groups of racers, including city staffers and other citizens. Last year, Brett Savage of McMinnville, Oregon defended his title by winning the prestigious growers’ race for the second consecutive year.

After the regatta they head for the local compost heap, but the growers get to keep all the seeds, as some varieties can fetch hundreds of dollars (per seed) in seed auctions.

Official website : www.ci.tualatin.or.us

On how to grow a giant pumpkin : www.pgvg.org and www.bigpumpkins.com

2. Goose Hanging
Lekeitio, Spain

Goose Hanging in Lekeitio, Spain

Goose Hanging in Lekeitio, Spain

Photo : www.halohalo.ph

Held in September
The Spaniards are doyens of weird fiestas but the annual “Day of the Goose” in the Basque coastal town of Lekeitio takes some beating, even by Spanish standards. The “Fiesta de los Gansos” dates back at least 350 years, and marks the high point of the week-long San Antolin festival which celebrates the patron saint of this pretty fishing village.

During the festival, a dead goose is suspended from a rope, which is stretched across the harbor and held at both ends. A young man is then rowed up to the bird, launches himself at it, and holds on for dear life. Both ends of the rope are then pulled tight and slackened, which repeatedly propels the man and the bird into the air and then dunks them in the water. To make the job harder, the goose is made slippery by covering it with grease. The idea is to twist or rip the goose’s head off as quickly as possible while coping with the vigorous movements.

In the beginning this weird event was celebrated using living geese, but in recent years they kill the goose before hanging it on the rope.

Information on Lekeitio : www.spain.info

3. Tuna Throwing
Port Lincoln, South Australia

Tuna Throwing, Port Lincoln, Australia

Tuna Throwing, Port Lincoln, Australia

Photo : www.blog.ratestogo.com

Held in January
The Tunarama Festival, otherwise known as the “Tuna Throwing Festival”, takes place in Port Lincoln in South Australia, and is held over the Australia Day weekend. The festival began in 1962, and was intended to promote the emerging tuna fishing industry in Port Lincoln.

How to play – A rope loop is attached to the head of a frozen tuna (weighing up to 22 pounds), then contestants simply grab the rope and throw the fish as far as possible, using a technique akin to an Olympic hammer thrower’s. In fact, ex-Olympic hammer thrower, Sean Carlin, holds the record for the longest tuna toss at 37.23 metres set in 1998. A grand cash prize of $7,000 is given to the winner. Other events include the 3kg Kingfish toss for children aged 11-15, and bizarrely a ‘prawn toss’ for little children.

Merriwyne Hore, the acting manager of the 2008 festival: “What happens when the tuna is tossed, even though it’s frozen solid, it does start to break down. The tail comes off, the fins come off, the eyes fall out and then the underbelly breaks, and, you know, it really gets to be extremely messy.” www.telegraph.co.uk

Talk of substituting the frozen tuna with a fake fish has bitterly divided the tuna-throwing community.

It may also be a rather expensive sport to take up, as a good-sized tuna can fetch up to A$6,000 (€3,600).

For more information and registration details : www.australiaday.org.au
Also : www.about-australia.com

4. Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake
Gloucestershire, UK

Cheese Rolling, Cooper's Hill, Gloucestershire, UK

Cheese Rolling, Cooper's Hill, Gloucestershire, UK

Photo :  www.flickr.com / Mike Warren’s photostream

Held in May

“The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake” is an annual event held on the Spring Bank Holiday at Copper’s Hill, near Gloucester. It was originally held for the people of Brockworth village, but now people from all over the world take part. The tradition of cheese-rolling at Copper’s Hill is at least 200 years old, and there are suggestions that it may either date back to Roman times or could have been a pagan healing ritual.

The rules of the game are simple, a Double Gloucester cheese is rolled from the top of the hill and competitors must race down the hill after it. The first person over the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese, then everyone either goes to the pub or the local hospital. In theory, the competitors aim to catch the cheese, but since it has a one second head start and can reach speeds up to 70mph (112 km/h), this rarely occurs.

There are five official downhill races, including one ladies’ race, each involving around 20 competitors who will line-up and anxiously await the master of ceremonies’ commands before setting off. The winner of each race receives a Double Gloucester cheese, supplied by Smart’s Farm, as well as enjoying local and even international fame.

Due to the steepness and uneven surface of the hill there are usually a number of injuries, ranging from sprained ankles to broken bones and concussion. Thankfully, a first aid service is provided by the local St. John Ambulance at the bottom of the hill, as well as a team qualified in cave and mountain rescue who remove casualties from the hill face.

The highest injury toll in recent years occurred in 1997 with 33 competitors being injured, and in 2005 races were delayed as ambulances delivered victims to the local hospital before returning to wait for the next batch of casualties. Spectators have also be known to receive their fair share of injuries from off-course cheeses. So take care!

Official website : www.cheese-rolling.co.uk
For more information : www.wikipedia.org
Suppliers of Double Gloucester Cheese : www.smartsgloucestercheese.com

5. The Battle of the Oranges
Ivrea, Italy

Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy

Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy

Photo : www.flickr.com / A look through lens, Photostream

Held in February

The medieval town of Ivrea, near Turin in Piedmont, comes alive in February with its peculiar traditional carnival. The historic “Battle of the Oranges” commemorates the rebellion of the people against a tyrant, Raineri di Biandrate, who ruled the town in the middle ages. This involves thousands of townspeople, divided into nine combat teams, who throw oranges at each other – with considerable violence – during the traditional carnival days.

The story goes that Raineri gave himself the right to sleep with any bride on her wedding night. But he got his punishment when Violetta, the beautiful daughter of a miller, refused to sleep with him and cut off his head with a dagger. She’s known as the Mugnaia – and is the heroine of the carnival. Today the carriages represent the duke’s guard and the orange throwers the revolutionaries. If participants wear a red hat they are considered part of the revolutionaries and will not have oranges thrown at them.

Before oranges were thrown they used apples. Later, oranges came to represent the duke’s chopped off head. The origin of the tradition to throw oranges is not well understood, particularly as oranges do not grow in the foothills of the Italian Alps and must be imported from Sicily. In 1994 an estimate of 265000 kilograms (580,000 lbs) of oranges were brought to the city.

Official website for Ivrea : www.comune.ivrea.to.it

For more information : www.wikipedia.org

6. La Tomatina
Valencia, Spain

La Tomatina, Valencia, Spain

La Tomatina, Valencia, Spain

Photo : www.typicallyspanish.com

Held in August
La Tomatina is held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tens of thousands of participants come from all over the world to fight in a brutal battle where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets in exactly one hour. The tomato fight has been a strong tradition in Bunol since 1944 or 1945, but its original meaning remains a complete mystery. Whatever happened to begin the tradition, it was enjoyed so much that it was repeated the next year, and the year after that, and so on.

At the start of the event, trucks haul the bounty of tomatoes into the center of the town, Plaza del Pueblo. The signal for the beginning of the fight is firing of the cannon, and the chaos begins. Once it begins, the battle is generally every man for himself. The standard uniform is an old T-shirt and old shorts (T-shirts with bullseyes printed on them are not recommended).

There are a few safe-guards which all participants must respect and abide by. All tomatoes thrown in the festival must be crushed before being thrown so they can’t hurt anybody. Also recommended is a pair of eye goggles.

Once the food fight has finished, the cleaning process begins. Fire trucks spray down the streets with water, while people then have to find water to wash themselves…… most likely at the Bunol River.

Official festival website : either www.latomatina.org, or www.tomatina.net, or www.latomatina.com???
Official website for Valencia : www.valencia-tourist-travel-guide.com

7. Watermelon Skiing,
Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia

Watermelon Skiing, Chinchilla, Australia

Watermelon Skiing, Chinchilla, Australia

Photo : www.melonfest.com.au

Held in February
The town of Chinchilla is less than 300 kilometres from Brisbane in Queensland, and produces 25% of all the melons sold in Australia. The town celebrates its passion for melons with The Chinchilla Melonfest, held every two years, normally in February (the next is in 2011).

The four-day festival features a range of quirky events including watermelon-skiing, pip spitting, a head-bashing watermelon competition, melon bungee, melon tossing and “melon iron man”.

Watermelon-skiing – Contestants must stick their feet into watermelons sliced in half, and then try to ski down a long tarpaulin slope, made slippery with a mashed-up watermelon pulp. Skiers stand at the beginning of the run, and hold onto a rope which is held by two people standing either side of the tarp. These two players run down the course dragging the watermelon-skier behind them. The person who remains on his feet for the longest distance is the winner.

For more information : www.chinchilla.org.au
For Registration details : www.melonfest.com.au

8. Gravy Wrestling
Stacksteads, Rossendale, UK

Gravy Wrestling, Stacksteads, UK

Gravy Wrestling, Stacksteads, UK

Photo : www.rossendale.gov.uk

Held in August
The Rose ‘n’ Bowl pub in Stacksteads, Lancashire, hosts the World Gravy Wrestling Championships. Without doubt one the wildest, wackiest challenges ever to grace the hills of Pennine Lancashire. More than 100 people gathered to watch the battle, involving fancy dress, semi-pro wrestling exhibition bouts, and big screen action. Three judges are on hand to oversee that competitors fought fair as they wrestled in 2,000 litres (440 gallons) of out-of-date gravy – the equivalent to 40,000 portions. Carol Lowe, 37, landlady of the pub, said: “We normally have to make the gravy ourselves, which is a bit of a nightmare, but this year Bisto stepped in.

Joel Hicks, aka “Stone Cold Steve Bisto” was winner of the men’s world championship in 2009. The 30-year-old barrister said: “It is a bit crazy, it is the third time I have done this event, so to finally win it is fantastic.”

Emma Slater, 23, from Oldham, won the women’s bout dressed as Mrs Christmas. She said: “I didn’t register until the last minute because I was only meant to be holding up the cards at the end of each round, so it has all come as a big surprise.”

Fire crews from the Bacup Fire Station were called in to “hose down” the 16 participants after their bouts in the wrestling ring.

All the proceeds are going to East Lancashire Hospice.

Official website : www.rosenbowl.co.uk/gravy
Supplies of Bisto Gravy : www.aahnight.co.uk

9. Flour Fight
Galaxidi, Greece

Flour Fight, Galaxidi, Greece

Flour Fight, Galaxidi, Greece

Photo : www.flickr.com / Terry Stone’s photostream

Held in February
Every year in the Greek port town of Galaxidi, located some 200 kilometers west of Athens, people come from far and wide mark the end of carnival season and the beginning of Greek Orthodox Lent by celebrating “Clean Monday”. This actually becomes a rather dirty affair as participants embark on a giant flour fight, throwing over 3,000 pounds of flour at one another.

The flour fight dates back to the very beginning of the 19th century, when villagers began celebrating Carnival in defiance of the Ottoman occupiers. They painted their faces with ash and danced in decorous circles, one for women, one for men. Now the fun is co-ed and the flour throwing non-discriminating. Locals dye bag upon bag of flour with food coloring and paint their faces with charcoal.

On the day itself, the ringing of cowbells marks the start of the war. Villagers, joined by out-of-towners, are split into two gangs who fight it out with coloured flour bombs in the centre of Galaxidi. People wear rags, surgical masks, goggles and overalls. Afterwards, there is hardly a carnival-goer not covered from head to toe in flour. Many jump into the sea to wash off….. prior to a long evening out in the town’s tavernas.

By the time the day comes to an end, the town is covered in sticky, brightly colored flour, and officials say it takes weeks to clean up the town.

Official website : www.galaxidi.gr
For travel information : www.visitgreece.gr

10. Bull Running
Pamplona, Spain

Bull Running, Pamplona, Spain

Bull Running, Pamplona, Spain

Photo : www.flickr.com / enekajimenez1977’s photostream

Held in July
Every year thousands pack into Pamplona to start Spain’s most famous bull-running fiesta to honour Navarre capital’s patron saint, San Fermin. The tradition is said to have come from practicality when, in 1591 residents had to herd the bulls to the bull-fighting arena.

The Pamplona bull run takes place at 8am every morning from 7th to 14th July. The actual run stretches from the corral at Santo Domingo where the bulls are kept, to the bullring where they will fight that same afternoon. The length of the run is 825 metres and the average time of the run from start to finish is about three minutes. The streets through the old town which make up the bull run are walled off so the bulls can’t escape. The gaps in the barricades are wide enough for a person to slip through, but narrow enough to block a bull. Each day six fighting bulls run the route as well as two herds of bullocks.

There are about 2,000 competitors on weekdays and almost 3,500 at weekends. Runners dress in the traditional clothing which consists of a white shirt and trousers with a red waistband and neckerchief. In one hand, they hold the day’s newspaper rolled to draw the bulls’ attention from them if necessary. Minutes prior to the run, local runners invoke the Saint to ask for his protection. They do this in front of a niche located at the beginning of the hill of Santo Domingo, waving a newspaper in their hands. The song is sung three times.

A first rocket is set off to alert the runners that the corral gate is open. A second rocket signals that all six bulls and six steers have been released. The runners dash along in front of the bulls, aiming to get as close as possible, whilst trying to avoid getting gored by their sharp horns. The third and fourth rockets are signals of all the herd entering the bullring and its corral respectively, marking the end of the event.

Every year between 200 and 300 people are injured during the run, although most injuries are cuts and grazes due to falls and are not serious. Since 1910, 15 people have been killed in Pamplona.

These bulls are reared especially for the bull ring. After the bullfight the carcass is cut up, and the meat can be given to charity or it can be sold off. It is highly thought of and regarded as the finest beef that money can buy.

Official website : www.pamplona.es
More information : www.bullrunning.info

Protect your knees

February 17th, 2010 by admin No comments »

KneesRunning is known to be rather hard on knees and other joints, but knee pain is a common malady among many athletes and recreational exercisers as well. The knee is one of the key points of absorbing all of that shock and pounding when your foot hits the ground, and for that reason it takes quite a beating. People may find they are more predisposed to chronic knee pain more so than others, but the truth is that there are things you can do to decrease you odds of coming down with a wailing knee.

The first thing is that by strengthening the muscles around the knee area and ensuring that they are also well stretched and flexible you can work wonders to keep pain at bay. The major contenders are of course the quads that sit right above the knee and then the calves which are the muscles at the back of your lower leg. But you want to ensure that your entire body is strong and in alignment to be most effective in your preventative care; this includes focusing not only on your calves and quads but your buttocks, core, inner thigh, and hamstrings too.

Along with incorporating strength training into your workouts done in your gym clothes you will want to stretch after your workouts when your muscles are already warmed up, loose, and most responsive. You should stretch all of your major muscles but focus especially on the quads, inner and outer thighs, and the calves. You also want to keep your IT band knot free, this tissue is located on the outer portion of your thigh and runs from your hips down to your knees; a great stretch for this is to sit on your bottom, bend your knees , and plant your feet about 18 inches from your bum.  You will then take one leg and place the outside of your foot on the top of your opposite knee and then let that leg bend outwardly at the hip. Hold this position for about 20 seconds and then repeat it on the other side.

As we age, even those most avid gym goers wearing their fitness clothes will be more likely to be met with knee and other joint pain, which makes it even more critical for them to build up these muscles and remain as flexible as possible. Yoga is also a great thing to work into your regular routine as it will focus on both of these principles. Finally, if you still are still met with throbbing knees you should do less of the high impact activities like running and then do more joint friendly exercises like swimming, cycling, and getting on the elliptical machine. Eventually, as your muscles and tendons gain strength and get a much needed break you can then attempt to slowly increase the amount of time spent running and doing other high impact sports that you love.

The world’s first kilomarathon

February 15th, 2010 by admin No comments »

kilomarathonOkay, so we’ve all heard of the marathon right? The 26.2 mile endeavour that challenges runners to test their limits of endurance. But truth be told that miles are really used in only a few select countries who are still refusing to adapt to the rest of the world who instead rely on the metric measurement method. For this reason there is now the kilomarathon which is aptly made up of 26.2 kilometres instead of miles. 

So just how far is this in terms of miles? Well there are about 2.2 kilometres for every mile so that works out to be 16.3 miles for this kilomarathon for anyone who is counting. So if you are looking to suit up in your fitness clothes and get to running, here’s the dirt on this special event.

The unique thing here is that you have the chance to be a participant in the inaugural kilomarathon in a few events held across Europe. There is the one taking place in England on the 14th of March, the gun will go off in Scotland on the 3rd of October, and if you aren’t ready to lace up just yet you can start training and hop in the race in North Ireland or Wales happening in 2011. Being that your first chance is fast approaching, should you want to run the kilomarathon in England you should head on-line and sign up fast because the entries will be closed off as of the 17th of February. 

So who should enter this blessed event? Well the answer is everyone, including you! Running is in fact one of the very best cardiovascular activities to not only increase endurance and stamina but to shed those pesky pounds as well. Per minutes of exertion running comes out on top of nearly any other form of cardio that you could do outside or at the gym. And being that the traditional marathon may seem too daunting for many of those in their gym clothes, this shorter version, albeit still an accomplishment, is a bit more manageable. 

The entire event is designed to be fun and between the race itself there are other activities and nearby accommodations that will pamper those tired quads and sore feet after you’ve crossed that finish line. You’ll also be entitled to a special race day tee, a goody bag filled with treats, and of course a medal for finishing…everyone is a winner at the kilomarathon. Then after you can get to your carbo refuelling with plenty of after race refreshments and drinks. So show those blasted US miles a thing or two and stick with metric with the kilomarathon; hope to see you there!

10 Yoga Postures Performed By Cats

February 12th, 2010 by Lyndon 15 comments »

The following cats have been caught on camera in 10 of the most popular yoga positions.

Most of Yoga actually imitates what animals do easily and many yoga positions will require you to imitate some sort of animal. Old Yoga gurus believed that by taking the posture of a certain animal; we can embody the cosmic energy and thus achieve a stability of mind and body

1. The Cobra – Bhujangasana

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Stretches the backbone, tones up the back as well as biceps and triceps, opens the upper body and cardiovascular system.

Lay down on your own tummy. Keep ones legs together, arms on your side, near to the body, together with your palms by your upper body.

First Step: Deep breathing, gradually elevate your own head and upper body as tall as it’ll move. Maintain your bum muscle groups firm in order to safeguard the lumbar region of your spine. Maintain your head upwards and also your upper body as well as heart out. Inhale and exhale repeatedly after which come down. Repeat as needed.

Second Step: Keep to the actions previously mentioned. As soon as you have gone as high up as you are able to, carefully elevate your self against your biceps and triceps, stretching out the backbone much more. Just proceed as long as you’re secure. The pelvis must always stay on the ground. Inhale and exhale repeatedly and come down.

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2. Upavistha Konasana (Wide Seated Forward Bend)

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Step 1. Sit down together with your thighs open to a Ninety degree position ( make sure you keep pelvis in the middle). Contract your feet in order to line up the knees, toes directed toward the heavens. If you sense your own pelvis rocking back again, or perhaps a decrease of the curvature within the lower back, be seated up on some elevation, permitting the pelvis to be able to tilt forwards.

Step 2. Locate the the tips of your fingers around the ground at the rear of your own sides. Take a breath, pulling the sides of your entire body long, generating space within the vertebrae. Remain right here if you’re experiencing a stretch within the hip and legs.

Step 3. To manoeuvre much deeper, first support ones lower back with your primary musculature. Pull the muscle tissue from the pelvic floor carefully ” up ” ( a similar muscle tissue you utilize to prevent as well as commence the movement of urine). Pull the lower belly carefully within.

Step Four. Begin to move the palms out ahead of you, gradually, using your breathing like a guide. Maintain your vertebrae long as also direct forward using the heart. Cease whenever you experience you’ve attained a demanding yet sustainable posture. Instead of looking to get nearer towards the earth, envision expanding longer with the backbone.

Step Five. To be able to get out of the posture, reconnect together with your core muscles, and gradually move the palms back in the direction of the body. Utilize both hands in order to carefully flex the knees, as well as get the legs together again.

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3. Janu Shirshasana

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Take a seat on the ground with hip and legs widened before you. Flex 1 leg, getting the actual heel from the foot as near to your groin as you possibly can. You might want to put a cushion underneath the bent knee meant to get ease and comfort. Make certain your own sit bones are strongly grounded over the ground and also your own backbone is in a straight line.

Turn the body somewhat which means you face out and about over the extended calf. Take a breath as well as elevate your own arms above your head. Breathe out and also start to move ahead gradually. Try and keep your back as even as you possibly can. Rather than bending along at the hips, concentrate on raising the butt bone as well as moving forwards on your own sit bones. Take a breath and also straighten the vertebrae. Let out your breath and also move ahead, nevertheless a little.

To obtain a little bit additional forwards mobility, engage your own quadriceps ( top thigh muscle groups) while you move ahead. This lets out the hamstrings, providing you much more overall flexibility. Whenever you have shifted as much ahead as you are able to, lower your arms and also grasp your own feet, or perhaps lower leg. Hold the posture for just a moment and also inhale and exhale.

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4. Twist Pose

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Prone twist posture in yoga exercises is actually an effective way to release the back after advanced yoga exercise positions. Discover ways to perform the twist yoga posture with ideas coming from a yoga teacher during this free of charge yoga lesson video clip.

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5. Sukasana Pose

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An important commencing posture which enables you to concentrate attention upon breathing and also the entire body; will help reinforce lumbar region of your spine as well as open the lower groin and also hips.

Sit down cross-legged together with palms upon your knees. Concentrate on your own breathing. Maintain your backbone in a straight line as well as push the sit down bones lower onto the ground. If your knees climb over your hips, take a seat on a pillow or even a block. This will assist your backside and hips. Get five to ten gradual, strong breaths. Around the subsequent breathe, elevate your own arms above your own head. Let out your breath and also bring your arms lower gradually. Duplicate 5-7 times.

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6. Savasana Pose

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Perhaps the most crucial position, the Corpse is actually as deceptively very simple as the Tadasana, also known in some circles as the Mountain posture. Typically carried out after the end of your Yoga session, the objective is mindful relaxation. Lots of people discover the “aware” component one of the most challenging simply because it is extremely effortless to float away to nap whilst performing Savasana. Commence by simply lying down on your back, your feet somewhat separate, arms at ones sides along with hands facing upward. Shut your eyes and also take a number of gradual, heavy breaths. Permit the body to sink to the floor.

Try concentrating on a particular section of your body as well as willing it to be able to loosen up. For instance, begin with your toes, think of the muscle tissue and skin soothing, letting go and also gradually melting onto the ground. From your toes, go forward to your thighs, calves and so forth up to your own face and head. After that merely inhale and exhale and also unwind. Remain in the posture not less than 5-10 or so minutes.

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7. Downward Facing Dog – Adho Mukha Svanasana

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Commence on both hands and also knees. Maintain your hip and legs about hip thickness apart as well as your arms shoulder thickness away from each other. Your own centre fingers ought to be parallel, directed straight forward. Rotate your elbows to ensure the attention or internal elbow will be facing ahead. Take a breath and also curl your own toes underneath, as though preparing for you to stand up on your own toes. Let out your breath and also straighten your own legs; force ” up ” together with your arms.

The objective is always to lengthen the vertebrae although trying to keep your legs in a straight line as well as your your feet straight on the floor. Nevertheless, at first it is fine to flex the knees a little and also keep your heels elevated.

The # 1 consideration is always to focus on lengthening the vertebrae. Don’t let your own shoulders creep upwards by your ears — always keep them lower. Weight ought to be distributed in between your own feet and hands. Hold the posture for just a couple of breaths.

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8. The Bridge – Sethu Bandhasa

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Lay on your own back together with your knees upward and palms at your own side Your feet must be close to your bum about half a 6 ins separate. To start, carefully elevate and also lower your butt. After that, gradually, elevate the butt bone and also proceed raising your vertebrae, attempting to move 1 vertebra each time till your whole back is arched ” up “.

Force strongly using your feet. Maintain your knees in a straight line and also near together. Inhale and exhale deeply straight into your torso. Hold both hands under your own back and also force towards the ground.

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9. Cat Pose

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This really is actually 2 positions, one moving in to the an other ( cat to dog pose.) Start on your palms and also knees. Maintain your palms just simply ahead of your shoulder blades, your legs should be about a hip thickness apart.

When you take a breath, tilt the butt bone and pelvis upwards, and also enable the vertebrae curvature downward, dropping your belly lower, and also raise your head upwards.

Extend carefully. While you let out your breath, switch straight into cat by simply reversing the actual vertebrae flex, tilting the pelvis straight down, drawing the vertebrae ” up ” and also pulling the upper body and abdomen in.

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10. Mountain – Tadasana

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A peculiar posture for the reason that this seems so easy that a few students might ask – “exactly why bother? Yet just like there’s more to deep breathing than first meets the eye, there’s much more to standing, also.

Stand along with toes together, palms at your own sides, eye balls looking forward. Raise your feet, fan all of them open, after that position all of them back again down on the ground. Experience your own heel, toes and bottom of one’s feet in connection with all the ground. Tilt your own pubic bone somewhat forwards. Elevate your own upper body upward as well as away, yet within reason – this is not the military and also you aren’t standing to attention.

Elevate your own head upwards and also increase the neck simply by working out with the bottom of one’s skull towards the ceiling. Stretch out the little finger upon each hand down, after that balance this motion through extending your own index fingers. Force onto the ground together with your toes and also elevate the legs, the calves and then finally the upper thighs.

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Great North Run will not expand

February 12th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Great North RunThe 30th Great North Run will not expand for more entries despite record demand with more than 100,000 people trying to secure a place.

The half-marathon between Newcastle and South Shields will only see the usual 54,000 runners taking part, with this figure considered the appropriate limit by race bosses.

Large TV and radio coverage, last year’s sunny weather and the fact that this is the 30th anniversary race, led to record demand for spots, according to event organisers Nova International.

The organisers are focusing on making a this year’s event better rather than bigger, said Nova’s communications director David Hart, adding there were no plans to increase the size of the event to allow more people to take part in future.

The anniversary run has been backed by a promotional campaign in a national newspaper, Radio 5 Live and BBC television.