Should we train like athletes? A deep hamstring stretch and a word from Will. 🏃🏻‍♂️

---

💡 Training Like Athletes

Isn't it amazing to watch athletes at the top of their game? Take the London Marathon, for example. The speed of the front runners is simply breathtaking. And it's the same when we watch strongman competitions with their incredible strength or ballet dancers who amaze us with their flexibility, control, and grace. These top-tier athletes are true masters of their craft.

They're incredibly focused on achieving excellence. To perform at such a high level, really does take over their lives.

But, what about us, the everyday folks? Do we need to be laser-focused on one thing? Should it take over our lives? Well, it might work for some, but not for everyone…

Take a client of mine who's really into running. He absolutely loves it. All of his goals are centred around running and his performance. Sure, he works on his strength and flexibility, but running is the primary focus. However, he's the exception; most of my clients (myself included) have broader goals. They want to be fitter, faster, stronger, but it's not tied to a specific event like running. They like to mix it up: a run one day, cycling the next. Maybe play some tennis or golf at the weekend, and then hit the slopes or catch some waves on vacation. They love seeing their gym numbers improve, but it's also important to them to keep their bodies moving well and away from injuries.

So, our goal isn't about outrunning a marathoner, but we do aim to be stronger than them. We don't wish to out-lift a powerlifter, but we certainly aspire to outrun them. We don't need to be as supple as a ballerina, but we do want to move freely and without pain.

We're not aiming to master one, but rather, we're the jacks of all trades. This implies our training needs a balanced blend of strength, cardiovascular, and mobility work.

The real challenge, though, is how do we strike the right balance in all this without practically living at the gym? Well, that’s a great subject for next week!

---

🎥 Feel those hammies

A regular gym staple and for good reason. The Romanian Deadlift or RDL is a great way to strengthen the posterior chain; a posh way of saying the backside of the body.

If you don't feel that deep stretch in the hammies that's no RDL 🤗

🤔 Master of one...

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”  William Shakespeare.

---

P.S. If you enjoyed this week's Thursday Two, please share it with a friend.

Thanks,

Jamie