Day 3

The last day. Finally. Hahaha. Legs are the only things that are incredibly sore on my body. Forearms are feeling it a bit from the pull-ups yesterday. Today I hope to leave everything I've got in Alberta. My plan is to be wheeled in a wheelchair on to the plane Monday morning. That will mean I gave it my all. Hahaha.

Here is what's on tap for today:

Day 2

Good morning everyone! Day 2 at the Canadian Regionals is upon us and it's snowing. Again! WTF??? It's almost June. Anyway...

Here is a little clip of my hotel room.

The Venues

Here are the venues in Okotoks, AB.

The temperature in Okotoks, AB today is 4 C (39 F). And there is snow on the ground. The following picture is from OPT's website:

Should make for a fun run. Giddy up!

Calgary

Greetings everyone from Calgary! I arrived yesterday around 14:15 local time (16:15 Eastern). Everything went smoothly as far as traveling went. Although waiting at Toronto International Airport for 4 hours seem to drag on.

While it was 33 degrees Celcius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) back home it was cool and cloudy in Calgary with a bomby temperature of 14 C (57 F). Heck, it was warmer in Kingston, ON at 0700 than midday in Calgary. I miss the heat already. Although it will make the workouts a little more tolerable this weekend.

Zzzzzzzzz...

How many of you experience a little afternoon lull? And those of you that experience that lull, how many of you take advantage of having a nap? My guess is probably not very many people. Unless you are a part of a culture that traditionally takes naps, more commonly known as siestas.

For most people in the Western world, the usual day consists of being up 16 hours and sleeping 8 hours. The human body has an internal clock that is set with 2 distinct dips in alertness during the day. These times are around 14:00 (2 p.m.) and 02:00 (2 a.m.).

Protein

Protein is essential for the growth and development of the human body. It provides the body with energy and various other functions mentioned below. Protein is 1 of the 3 macronutrients commonly identified as a dietary requirement. The other 2 being carbohydrates and fat. When a protein source is consumed it is broken down by digestive enzymes into amino acids (a.a.). Receptors that are found on the intestinal lining choose which amino acids will be absorbed for circulation. The body has the unique ability of determining which a.a.(s) is/are required at any given time. However, if the digestive system is bombarded with one specific a.a., as in a supplement, it will only allow that a.a. to be absorbed due to its abundance.

What exactly are amino acids? They are the building blocks of all proteins. They act as enzymes, provide structure, are hormones, immunoglobulins (help fight foreign objects invading the human body), etc. A protein consists of a long chain of a.a.'s. Think of a.a.'s this way...

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are chemical compounds that we, as humans, consume in the largest quantities. They provide the body with the calories required for growth, metabolism, and other bodily functions. There are 3 macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fat. They each have a unique role in the body.

Since each of these macronutrients contain calories, the caloric values are not the same.

Ice Bath

Hopping in an ice cold bath after a workout or competition can be very intimidating. Just the very thought of having the hot water run out during a shower is painful. Now think about hoping in a tub of water that is 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, maybe even colder. Talk about pain! But does it really help?

In theory, it is believed that ice baths allow athletes to recover more quickly after a workout or competition. This is because during a workout microtrauma occurs to the muscle fibers. This microtrauma is a good thing because it stimulates the growth of new muscle and strengthens it. However, the downside to microtrauma is the delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This is the soreness that occurs anywhere between 24 – 72 hours after exercise.