Sat 04 Apr 2009 |
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I am already some time now member of the MAXX Swim Academy Topteam, and I like it. The training program is heavy but I am holding on despite the coming exams at school. The focus of this academy is of course to improve your swimming technique but just as important are your health and lifestyle.Through various workshops you become informed on the importance of good nutrition, posture, sleep and overall lifestyle. You can simply not perform at the highest level if you are not in good health. Besides physical swimming we also do a lot of strength and fitness training, in the swimming world we call that land practice. It is very seriously when doing a land practice, there must be results! Improving your personal best times during the games gives you a good measurement of your training effort. But you can not always swim a PB. so you have to measure your progress in a different way. MAXX organizes several times a year a test that defines your fitness and stamina, there are also sport tests.
Recently there was such a test. Your length is measured, your weight recorded and balance closely monitored.
Measuring height.
Then is it time for real cycling until you drop! First you are equipped with a heart rate monitor and a mask over your nose and mouth for oxygen measurement.
Installing the equipment.
Then you can go cycling on an exercise bike connected to a computer.
Still going easy....
In the beginning the resistance of this bike is very low, so the cycling is easy and without much force. Gradually, the resistance increased so you have to work harder to perform.
In between checking.
Eventually, it's too heavy and you must stop, the better your strength and stamina the heavier and longer you can cycle.
It's more and more heavier...
I was pleased that my results were much better than the previous test, so there is progress in my strength and endurance.
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