Training Guides

Stiff, painful and aching muscles are common side effects of exercise, that we often just accept as part of life. They can keep you out of action for an extended period, and prevent you from reaching your full potential. If you keep exercising you risk making your condition worse though, and you can become more susceptible to a more serious injury. But it doesn't have to be like this, as TriggerPoint has discovered.

As long as people are exercising and engaging in sporting activities, there will be the unfortunate side-effect of injuries and general discomfort, often in the form of stiff, aching muscles. Continually training with discomfort or minor injuries is a recipe for disaster, and so any product that can reduce or eliminate this stiffness and inflexibility is extremely beneficial. Self-myofascial release, aka foam rolling, is an increasingly popular method of doing just this. Once seen as being exclusively targeted at professional athletes, it has become a lot more accessible recently, and it is now more possible than ever before to see the foam roller benefits.

A 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. While that may sound like many peoples' idea of torture, it's actually what makes up an Ironman triathlon. For many people who want to push themselves to the limit, this is the ultimate test of endurance. Yet with such extreme exertion, nutrition is not only important but crucial to your safety.

No matter how fit you are or how hard you've trained, the extreme nature of an Ironman will leave you bereft of energy unless you refuel on the go. If you want to make it over the finish line you should make nutrition a priority.

So you've decided to run a marathon. It's the ultimate test of endurance, and sorts out the men from the boys. But it shouldn't be entered into without a lot of planning and training, unless you want to set yourself up for failure. Nutrition plays a huge part in this, and it is one aspect that is often unwisely overlooked, or not given the attention it requires. What you put in your body is essential in allowing you to push yourself come race day, and if you want to be running rather than crawling over the finish line you should make nutrition a priority.

Energy Chews haven't been around that long in the health and fitness world, but they have already made a big impact, particularly amongst runners. A convenient way to load up on carbohydrates, they are a great option for those people who may struggle with energy gels. With so many on the market, though, and still relatively little known about them, it is hard to choose which is right for you, and what exactly they do.

Floyd Mayweather regularly uses cryotherapy before and after his gruelling training sessions and maintains a 49-0 unbeaten record. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, arguably the most famous names in the NBA, also swear by cryotherapy to stay at the top of their game. Of course, taking an ice bath to aid recovery is nothing new, but targeted cryotherapy has now revolutionised cold temperature rehabilitation for amateurs and professionals alike. Plus, it is a lot more pleasant than an ice bath.

Energy gels are a fairly new addition to the health and fitness world, but they have already made a big splash, particularly in running circles. A convenient way to load up on carbohydrates, they are now a staple in the race-day routine of many athletes. With so many on the market, though, and still relatively little known about them, it is hard to choose which is right for you, and what exactly they do.