Run Like A Girl? Yes- I Run Like A Girl everyday….
But for me going out on a road run is not my favorite workout-for me it is always a challenge…and today as I Ran Like A Girl, it occurred to me that going for a challenging run is just like the challenges of achieving success in your everyday life and staying on track with YOUR goals!Taking off on my run today, I challenged myself to go fast, faster than my body would like, faster than my legs wanted to take me…fast! And so, I took off on my run really fast and was huffing and puffing right away; however it did not take long for me to get into a faster than normal cadence that sent me on my 3 mile challenge. Starting off fast is always easy – you are ready, you motivated, you are fresh…but so many times, as with our goals we lose our mojo after the initial excitement is over and we slow down!!
Don’t lose your mojo early-keep a steady pace that will keep YOU moving forward! Read More
Don’t lose your mojo early-keep a steady pace that will keep YOU moving forward! Read More
I’ve recently been asked numerous times who the highest paid athletes in sports are. What sport earns the most money? Who gets the biggest endorsement deals? For the year 2012 I have your answer. Here’s the top 20 earning athletes from the previous year:
| Rank | Name | Sport | Nationality | Total earnings | Salary/winnings | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd Mayweather, Jr. | Boxing | United States | $85 million | $85 million | $0 |
| 2 | Manny Pacquiao | Boxing | Philippines | $62 million | $56 million | $6 million |
| 3 | Tiger Woods | Golf | United States | $59.4 million | $4.4 million | $55 million |
| 4 | Lebron James | Basketball | United States | $53 million | $13 million | $40 million |
| 5 | Roger Federer | Tennis | Switzerland | $52.7 million | $7.7 million | $45 million |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | Basketball | United States | $52.3 million | $20.3 million | $32 million |
| 7 | Phil Mickelson | Golf | United States | $47.8 million | $4.8 million | $43 million |
| 8 | David Beckham | Football | England | $46 million | $9 million | $37 million |
| 9 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | Portugal | $42.5 million | $20.5 million | $22 million |
| 10 | Peyton Manning | American football | United States | $42.4 million | $32.4 million | $10 million |
| 11 | Lionel Messi | Football | Argentina | $39 million | $20 million | $19 million |
| 12 | Haloti Ngata | American football | United States | $37.3 million | $37.1 million | $200,000 |
| 13 | Larry Fitzgerald | American football | United States | $36.8 million | $35.3 million | $1.5 million |
| 14 | Ndamukong Suh | American football | United States | $36 million | $35.5 million | $500,000 |
| 15 | Charles Johnson | American football | United States | $34.4 million | $34.3 million | $100,000 |
| 16 | Rafael Nadal | Tennis | Spain | $33.2 million | $8.2 million | $25 million |
| 17 | Mario Williams | American football | United States | $33.2 million | $32.9 million | $300,000 |
| 18 | Alex Rodriguez | Baseball | United States | $33 million | $31 million | $2 million |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | Auto racing | Spain | $32 million | $29 million | $3 million |
| 20 | Valentino Rossi | Motorcycle racing | Italy | $30 million | $17 million | $13 million |
| 20 | Michael Schumacher | Auto racing | Germany | $30 million | $20 million | $10 million |
The Paleolithic era was over 10,000 years ago when humans were hunters and gatherers. They had few of any current illnesses (i.e., obesity and type 2 diabetes) because according to Cordain and colleagues Paleolithic man did not eat dairy, grains, legumes, refined sugars, or processed foods. We also need to remember that Paleolithic man’s life expectancy was no more than 35 years. If he/she wanted to eat, he/she had to hunt and gather it, meaning lots of physical activity is the basis of this plan. There were no Paleolithic couch potatoes! That also means that Paleolithic man went hungry often. Is the Paleo diet right for you? Yes and no. It is a diet which means it is difficult to maintain long term. That is why there are different levels that are not clearly defined. On Paleo there is no alcohol, no starches (grains, pasta, potatoes, cereals, baked goods), no legumes (beans, soy products like tofu, tahini, and no peanuts), no dairy, no sugar, and no processed foods. Read More
I saw this information posted online and wanted to pass it along because it has some interesting information about bananas that I never knew!
Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
DEPRESSION:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. Read More
As many of you know I traveled to Las Vegas with the Johnny G Krankcycle team to present at IHRSA and here’s a few of the newest concepts out there!
Johnny G Krankcycle (Obviously I had to mention this one!) 
“Johnny G is once again shattering convention, breaking the rules and challenging us to rethink everything we thought we knew about cardio training. The fitness visionary who created the Spinning® phenomenon, has now invented a new program with his latest innovation, the Johnny G KRANKcycle by Matrix. The Kranking Training System is the first exercise program to focus on the upper body as a way to build cardio fitness.
Kranking provides a new way to build aerobic capacity, upper body strength and core stability while burning 9 – 11 calories per minute¹! Since it utilizes the upper body instead of the legs, it represents a unique cross-training opportunity for athletes of all types.
Johnny partnered with Matrix Fitness to develop the Krankcycle, and it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Kranking is fun, intuitive, and easy to learn. It can be used alone on the cardio floor, with a Personal Trainer, and can be performed in a group setting. It represents an unprecedented opportunity for physically challenged individuals and welcomes a wide range of “special populations” with open arms.
Kranking opens the door to a world of possibility for those who train and for the individuals and organizations who train them.”
Learn more at www.krankcycle.com
SURFSET Fitness 
“Let’s shake things up, literally. SURFSET® is all about getting away from the traditional static workout and challenging your body in new ways. Every exercise on the RSX is designed to engage your core & stabilizer muscles and shock the system to create real change inside & out. The body builder look is out & the lean surfer physique is in. You have to train like an athlete to build an athletic body type, and that means multi-planar movements that engage the body & mind in challenging and unique ways.
THE TRADITIONAL IMAGE OF A SURFER’S BODY IS LEAN AND LONG-LIMBED, WITH TIGHT, WELL-DEFINED MUSCLES AND VERY LITTLE BODY FAT.
A surfer is lean without looking weak, and muscular without the bulk. Sharp muscle lines are perfectly symmetrical, and overall body balance creates that enviable athletic physique. Paddling builds shoulder definition, strengthens the lower back muscles, and increases cardiovascular fitness. Duck-diving through waves builds arm strength: tricep strength in particular. The pop-up maneuver engages the core and pectoral muscles, and helps to build explosive power. And the actual process of standing and riding the wave increases leg strength, flexibility, and engages all the postural muscles.”
Learn more at www.surfsetfitness.com
reACT Trainer 
“reACT™ (Rapid Eccentric Anaerobic Core Trainer) is not just another fitness product – it represents a truly revolutionary entry in a new category of physical training called functional eccentric Strength & Core training. reACT builds on 8 years of research and design that culminated in the creation of the QuadMill™, the first functional eccentric training system that won accolades from elite athletes to senior centers. The QuadMill has now evolved to the reACT, offering the functional benefits of the QuadMill, but featuring one of the most unique designs ever to be introduced into the fitness and rehabilitation markets.
As the world’s first functional eccentric strength & core conditioning system, reACT offers a remarkably time-efficient anaerobic workout resulting in rapid strength gains with absolutely no impact on joints. Two to three workouts per week, each lasting only 5-10 minutes, produce significant gains in average conditioned individuals.”
Learn more at www.reacttrainer.com
In addition to its contribution to bone health, this nutrient also:
- Plays a role in defending against cancer (studies link deficiencies of vitamin D to as many as 18 different cancers).
- Protects against multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Normalizes insulin secretion and regulation.
- Can help with the regulation of heart and blood pressure.
- Has been linked to improved muscle strength and optimized brain activity.
Have you had your vitamin D today?
The University of Alabama recently unveiled their new strength and conditioning facility for their football program. And, as you would expect for a program that has dominated college football over the past 5 years, it is extravagant. The facility has two floors and totals 37,000 square feet. It has over 20 platforms, a full kitchen for pre and post workout snacks, and is connected to the indoor turf practice facility. Put all this together, and you’re looking at a facility that is on par with any professional team in the country.
And Alabama isn’t alone. The University of Tennessee recently upgraded to a 22,000 square foot facility complete with a MMA fighting ring. The University of Texas doubled their facility from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet. Even Penn State, marred in controversy, renovated their weight room to keep up with college football’s powerhouses. But none of these quite compare to the monstrosity that belongs to the Crimson Tide.
With the new facility, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Alabama football isn’t a top program for years to come. Recruiting, which I’m sure was a previously easy job to being with, will only benefit from the new building. If you were an 18 year old high school student and you came to Alabama on a recruiting visit, would you not be blown away by this? So a program that already has a number of the best players in the country gets a recruiting boost? Sounds like the epitome of a “rich get richer” scenario. It makes sense though; with national championships come money. And with money comes really nice stuff. And the University of Alabama has proved this.
I’ll share the link with the head strength coach Scott Cochran giving a tour of the new facility. He certainly seems excited about it, for lack of a better word.
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2013/02/scott_cochran_leads_a_tour_of.html
I found this blog article written by Dr. Mark Kelly from ACE Fitness and thought I would share! Music does a workout good! - Tia
There’s no doubt that music is powerful—in some cases, it has the ability to calm our senses and put us at ease; at other times, it serves to rev us up. For those who listen to music while working out, it can even make us push harder in our fitness routine than we would have without it. With all the modern technologies, including the ubiquitous iPod, which gives you access to an entire music library in the palm of your hand, using music during your workout has never been easier. And, it turns out, those who prefer to work out while listening to music may actually have an advantage. Studies show that music may aid almost every aspect of our workout, including pacing, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), explosiveness of movement, warm-up and lactate clearance during recovery. In fact, simply telling someone that music increases their enjoyment of exercise will enhance their enjoyment of exercise! Read More
A growing problem in the world of strength and conditioning is mental toughness training. Mental toughness training is also known by the common term, a puke session. The idea is to push the athletes to their mental limit so that they are subjected to possibly the same mental conditions they experience in a game. Is mental toughness training a myth or reality?
I believe that mental toughness training originated from military Special Forces training. The goal of military mental toughness training is not to make someone mentally tougher but to find out who is mentally tough and who is not. The military knows that you cannot make someone mentally tougher and that you either have it or you don’t. Read More
HQ Blog is the informational outlet of HQPerformance.com. Our state of the art training facility is in Cary, NC. We train high-end athletes from many different professional and collegiate teams all the way down to high school hopefuls. We promote complete wellness within the mind, body and soul and attempt to bring you useful news, updates and video that will help you along the way. Welcome to the HQ Blog.
