It is the fashion,it is the world

Friday, 2 July 2010

About Today: Make Your Own Fireworks

From Jen Hubley, your About Today Editor

I wait all year for the Fourth of July fireworks celebration. This is because I have never grown up and still love shiny things, controlled explosions, and large gatherings of people, same as I did when I was a kid.

Make Your Own Fireworks

I think of fireworks as one of those things that grow on trees, like oranges and money. The idea that you can actually make them is always amazing to me. (Standard disclaimers apply here, folks. Make sure it's legal to do so where you live, and that you observe all safety precautions.)

How to Prepare a Home Fireworks Display

And speaking of safety, here's how you go about setting up that backyard fireworks display without endangering yourself or your BBQ guests.

4 Hard Things About the Fourth

Of course, not everyone loves fireworks. For some people, especially kids with sensory integration disorder, fireworks are flat-out terrifying.

Special Needs Kids and Special Occasions

Before You Throw a Holiday Party

Fireworks & Thunder Help for Pets

Pets also have issues with the whole loud noises aspect of fireworks displays. My friend's dog Angus, who is a 70-pound Australian Shepherd, immediately becomes a lapdog whenever fireworks go off.

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Plyometrics better than Conventional Strength Training?

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 09:00 AM PDT

Here is some research (which I would normally post on the Facebook Fan Page), but since it is from my old McGill backyard at the University of Montreal (otherwise known as U of M) , I feel I should give them some exposure.

While our sprinters do BOTH plyometrics and conventional weight training (mix of Olympic lifts, Power lifts – bench and squats, and regular strength training for ancillary exercises), distance runners could certainly improve on the strength in their legs as well as flexibility (in my opinion).

The argument presented is plyometrics helps with bounding and bounding lifts you off the ground more efficiently, thus reducing the energy cost of running for distance runners. This results in faster times, at least in theory.

Control data: 3 control groups (no plyos nor weight training, plyometrics and conventional weight training), 35 subjects, 3000m time trials, running economy tests before and after an 8 week training period.

Armchair coaches: I'll bet a lot of you would like to see a 4th group with BOTH plyometrics and conventional weight training!

Results: improvements of 3%, 4.8% and 4.1% for the none, plyometrics and conventional weight training.

The bottom line is ANY improvement in strength and elasticity of your leg muscles will result in faster running. Of course, that extra strength and possible muscle mass must be translated to applying force to the ground while in a running motion.

I can see the resistance (no pun intended) in a distance runner doing free weights in the weight room, but keeping plyometrics fun while doing low hurdle hops and stadium stairs can be more beneficial!

So preliminary results suggest Plyometrics are better than Conventional Strength Training? Some questions to ponder:

is it more running specific?
is it the higher intensity?
is it from higher CNS stimulus?
is asymmetrical training better (in the weight room, machines can have a fixed range of motion, thus free weights are preferred)

Thursday, 1 July 2010

Online Casino

Any time you play at an online casino or live in Vegas and no matter what game(s) you choose to play, the overriding factor in whether or not you will attain success is discipline through money management. There are countless experts in the various casino games such as Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Video Poker, Baccarat and on down the line who lose big money despite their expertise. In a match-up between an expert at a particular casino game and an expert at bankroll management, the player that knows how to manage an online casino bankroll will succeed far more than the expert at any game that lacks discipline and self control.

The first part of developing a successful online casino strategy is organizing your gambling bankroll. You should split the bankroll apart for different gambling sessions that are based on a loss limit. For example, if you have a $1,000 gambling bankroll you could break that down into 10 session/sections of $100 each. That means that you can play for as long as that $100 lasts but once it is gone you must cut off the session and walk away. With a loss limit that is strictly enforced through discipline, you can have money management byav0iding going on "tilt" and chasing bad losses with bad money. Play online casino games at the Bodog casino with a 10% signup bonus, over $1,000,000 USD in progressive jackpots and even on your mobile phone.

Much of gambling comes down to preserving your bankroll so that you will be around and in the game when Lady Luck smiles upon you. The gambler that blows the entire bankroll in one session is never around for that swing of luck. While expertise at a particular game is great and an important ingredient of success, it is meaningless without the discipline and expertise of managing a gambling bankroll. Always keep in mind that you cannot win if you are out of the game and busted with no bankroll. Staying in the game is part of winning the game. The Bodog casino offers a weekly comp program for playing online casino games and also a $100 refer a friend bonus.

About Today: Red, White, and Blue Beverages for the Fourth

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Today

From Jen Hubley, your About Today Editor

Many of us in the States have a long weekend coming up, which means that we're all having trouble thinking about work. We would rather, for example, think about drinks recipes for upcoming barbecues and patriotic cocktail parties. (I mean, it can't be just me, right?)

Fourth of July Cocktails

I love that there are different sizes of cocktails here. You can drink up your red, white, and blue in either Short & Stylin', Tall & Refreshing, or Beautifully Blended. The blended ones are where the adult beverage sno-cones live, so that's where I'm looking.

Great Summer Cocktails

Tired of the red, white, and blue theme? (Or not in the US, and a little tired of hearing about our Independence Day?) Refresh yourself theme-free with these summer cocktails. Southern hemisphere folks will enjoy the wintery beverages listed here.

Cocktails, Smocktails, Here Come the Mocktails

Not a drinker? You still get a pretty beverage with an umbrella in it.

Top 10 Summer Brews

And finally, my summer beverage of choice, beer is always festive.

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Bud Winter’s “So You Want to be a Sprinter” now re-released

Posted: 30 Jun 2010 07:30 AM PDT

In 1956, Bud Winter of San Jose State University and Speed City fame published a landmark book titled So You Want to be a Sprinter. It was updated in 1973 and became foundation for many coaches back then who would later become world class coaches.

Those coaches include Usain Bolt's coach Glen Mills, Frank Dick, Dan Pfaff and Loren Seagrave, just to name a few.

His former athletes-turned-coach included Lee Evans, Dennis Johnson, Ray Norton and Bob Poynter also used and endorsed this book.

That book was only available as a rare book which sold for over $150 on eBay and Abebooks.

Until now.

54 years after the original release, and 37 years after the last version, I am proud to announce it is re-released and available today. I am honored to be the technical editor for this landmark book.

John Stallcup, the primary editor, and I amalgamated the different versions as well as updated some of the terminology and imperial to metric distances. 98% of the original book remains intact.

What is So You Want to be a Sprinter?

So You Want to be a Sprinter covers:

The 3 ways to be a faster sprinter
Starting technique and using blocks
8 essential drills for proper sprint form
The gather and the finish lean
Full detailed training plans for the year 'round athlete AND those starting in January
Lee Evans specialized Training plan
Relaxation
The 7 attributes that makes a champion

It is a complete concise book with simple cues and uses his classic Champ vs Chump analogies to get the point across to new sprinters.

The book is reasonably priced at $19.95 and to celebrate Ray Norton's 50^th anniversary of his 20.5 200m World record, the official launch date is Friday July 2, 2010.

SpeedEndurance readers can get 10% OFF (sale price $17.95) using this link until midnight (EDT) Friday July 2nd.

There is also a "Coaches Edition" spiral bound book. In the past, many coaches used this book as a field journal and scribbled their own notes in the book. This book is $21.95 and with a sale price $19.95.

Whether you are a High School coach or a Track and Field fan, So You Want to be a Sprinter is definitely a book for your collection.

I certainly can endorse this book!

It is the fashion,it is the world

Friday, 2 July 2010

About Today: Make Your Own Fireworks

Speedendurance.com

Speedendurance.com

Thursday, 1 July 2010

Online Casino

About Today: Red, White, and Blue Beverages for the Fourth

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Speedendurance.com

What is So You Want to be a Sprinter?

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