Endurance sport is just as much a game of nutrition as it is a game of mental and physical will.
How can the coaching staff of such a high profile multi-million dollar professional sports team, believe that merely consuming bananas, is the sercet to preventing cramps and optimizing game day nutrition? The Giants still won--but it wasn't because of their 'clever' nutrition strategy. Watching the Super Bowl allowed me to reminisce of the early childhood soccer days, when we all eat oranges during half-time. The coaches back then believed it worked and we as kids loved them. But in this day and age of professionalism--surely the coaches of a Super Bowl Team that analyzes every minute detail--implements a proper nutrition strategy that allows a 300 pound linebacker to perform to the best of his ability in the grueling heat and humidity? I eat bananas before races. Surely they can be a good race day food. But what else was consumed? Am I missing something?
Below is what one wants to avoid. Few athletic endurance videos are more dramatic than this one:
Sian and Wendy should have been hydrating with a product such as Infinit Nutrition--and they should have been timing the consumption of this product better. Of course--it certainly is easy for me to say this while I am typing on the couch at room temperature. But I have also been out their and seen the 'Pearly Gates' because of a poor nutrition strategy. In their defense--this excellent product was yet to be developed.
The bottom line:
Take the time to dial down your nutrition strategy while training and racing. Never be depleted going into a workout. The timing of nutrition is just as important as the nutrition itself.
I have been inspired by numerous 'giants' from the course of history; to dig deep within my bone marrow, and attempt to articulate my coaching philosophy. Below is cut and pasted from my LPC website...
My core coaching philosophy is driven by the following values, ethics, and beliefs:
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." - Pierre de Coubertin
Find true understanding in what the Olympic Creed means, and then incorporate this understanding with relentless passion throughout all facets of life.
"Citius, Altius, Fortius" - the Olympic Motto
Coach James will guide you along a wonderful journey, with the goal of becoming a 'faster', 'greater', and 'stronger' person.
The Olympic Creed and the Olympic Motto are meant to inspire athletes to embrace the Olympic spirit and to perform to the best of their abilities. Before joining Team LPC, you must first give me your oath that you will abide by these principles. Then we shall build on them together.
"Achieve New Balance" - advertising slogan used by New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
Successful living relies on achieving a healthy balance in life. It's important to train smart and implement a program that optimally reflects your busy lifestyle.
"Physical training is catabolic. You don't get stronger from merely training hard. You get stronger from training smart. Harvest your potential through the systematic process of training and recovering with purpose." - James Loaring
Learn from your previous mistakes. Minimize future mistakes. Eliminate the "no pain, no gain" mentality from your psyche. You can be smarter than that. You can be better than that.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein
Don't be insane. Train with purpose. Train smart.
"Coaching will always be more of an art than a science, but all coaching should be based on scientific principles." - Dr. Andrew Coggan
I have immersed myself in endurance sport for a long time, and have learned from many of the giants. When coaching, I strive to stand on the shoulders of the giants before me, and look further. I embrace emerging scientific principles, while still building and reflecting upon the great minds, and the wealth of experience, that have occurred throughout the evolution of sport. Am I 'new school' or 'old school'? I am both. And ‘School’ is the most important word in this question.
“The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do… They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.” - E. M. Gray
Never just go through the motions:
"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." - Vince Lombardi
"Become a master at processing information" - James Loaring
Never stop learning. Be a student of the sport. Accelerate through the massive learning curve of endurance sport. Pick everyone’s brain and retain the overwhelming information like a sponge. If you pay for my coaching, milk it for all it is worth by tapping into the knowledge and experiences that I have gained over time.
"Champions are everywhere, you just have to train them properly" - Arthur Lydiard
The vast majority of people never come remotely close to achieving their potential. Champions are people who have come infinitely close to harvesting their potential. Champions are individuals who fulfill their long-term goal(s). Look in the mirror and first ask yourself if you have champion blood within you. If yes, then ask yourself how you are going to get there. I can help.
"Endurance sport is just as much a game of nutrition as it is a game of mental and physical will" - James Loaring
Take the time to dial down your nutrition strategy while training and racing. Never be depleted going into a workout. Always refuel after training within the 'recovery window'. The timing of nutrition is just as important as the nutrition itself.
"Refuse to drink from the cup of mediocrity" - James Loaring
The glass is never half empty. Never breathe in negativity from others, unless it's constructive in nature. Otherwise it's a disease. Immerse yourself in a positive environment and always be positive yourself. Hydrate from the cup of excellence while carrying out your journey toward achieving excellence.
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." - Colin Powell
The little things are important. They do make a difference. Training well is only one part of the equation. Attitude is everything. Drink from the cup of excellence.
Welcome to our giant game on planet Earth - '...a big place... with so many challenging and exciting possibilities. The overall objective is to maximize the good, and minimize the bad.' May the Force be with you!" - G. R. John Loaring
Join Team LPC and begin to embark on the path toward excellence.
"Belief Makes the Extraordinary Ordinary" - Richard Quick
Believe in belief, and spread this belief like a bush fire onto others. But first allow it to spread like a ‘healthy’ virus within you. Have belief in yourself and in your coach. As a coach, I will put my heart and soul into helping you achieve your goals. But you must believe in me, and yourself, in order for us to grow together.
"There is no such thing as can't” – Jan Ashford and Elena Loaring
Broaden your horizon and strive to achieve what you thought was once unachievable.
"Onwards and upwards we GO" - James Loaring
What are you waiting for? Let's apply the Olympic Creed and set out on your very own personal Olympic-size journey....Now!
