Fitness.

Hamish Weir · 30 May 2003, 23:22 (Ref:615365)

Hi everyone. One or two questions. How do you guys/girls keep fit? How much time do you spend each time? Whats your programe? What keeps up your motivation?
What parts of your fitness do you concentrate on if you race single seaters? All the help you guys/girls can offer would help me out loads.

Thanks if you answer me.

Mr Jinxx · 30 May 2003, 23:25 (Ref:615368)

Sex

Mr Jinxx · 31 May 2003, 10:31 (Ref:615650)

The lack of it makes you run around like mad, concentrating VERY hard

piquetfan · 31 May 2003, 16:57 (Ref:615966)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Jinxx
Sex

Yes, and if it is with someone, it is even better.

racingdick · 31 May 2003, 16:59 (Ref:615969)

you cant pam and her five friends!!

evo · 31 May 2003, 18:40 (Ref:616048)

Hamish Weir you might want to post this in the Racers Forum.

DanFlag · 31 May 2003, 18:41 (Ref:616049)

Weights lifting once a week
Microwave popcorn + Coca-cola + DVD once a week

= Nothing much

racingdick · 31 May 2003, 18:48 (Ref:616055)

i was meant to say you cant beat

Aki · 31 May 2003, 20:48 (Ref:616124)

Well I race in single seaters, and according to tests my fitness is somewhat really high level. Here's my tips: concentrate mainly on your aerobical fitness. The physical problem with ss' is that you a. sit in a position which makes blood circulation difficult b. are tighten in 6-point belts which also affects the blood circulation c. the vibration from both engine and ground causes that you're eyes and brain must work a lot more to see what's ahead

So your heart must do all the work to deliver the muscles blood they need. Muscles are useless if they get not enough oxygen and blood. The bigger the muscles the more they need consume; that's why racing drivers happen to have slim bodies. Big muscles also makes it harder to move in the cockpit.

During the season I make about 6-8 hours of cardio vascular training (biking,running, uphill climping,rowing) a week. To build up your heart muscle and to increase your Vo2 max, the best is 60-120min at about 120-160 heart rate. I also do gym training ~3 times a week. I'd say the most important is to strenghten your upper and lower back by doing long sets with low weight and long moving ration, so your back will stay 'free' and you'll not suffer from different kind of locks.And don't forget the ab's, you can't even fart without using them...if your ab's get tired, next comes the back and shoulders. In winter time its best to try all the new things so you know exactly which works for you.

Some racers avoid running, because it stresses the lower back. The uphill climbing with sticks is not only the safest but also most complete CV training. And never forget that muscle grows ONLY in rest; between harder trainings there should be some 36 hours break. The right nutrition is most important after the training, so your muscles will not start to 'burn' in lack of aminos and carbos. That's where the scary name anabolic and katabolic phase (is phase right word?) comes from.

To get started, everybody should have somebody to show the basics.Nowadays its easy as every gym etc. has turned into a wellness center with professional staff. Once you start doing wrong, you'll carry on doing it and hurt yourself. Also to know the basics of nutrition is vital. Strong body without right or especially with wrong fuel is useless. Its not about scaling everything you put in your mouth, just to know what to eat before endurance performance.

I use to do a max load fitness test once a year to see the progress. That's something which disables you cheating youself, especially if you're looking to get stronger. If its about beach project '04, mirror is enough... my vo2max is 70ml/kg, max lactate 19.8 and body fat 6,1 %. So far gettin better every year

About motivation... it is simply a pleasure to be fit. You go out and see some drivers half dead with white lips and you just know it won't be about your fitness. And sad but true its not always important what you are but what you look like. Sponsors prefer see fit and happy driver... I spoke with Alex Wurz (who is for sure the fittest guy in F1, no matter what mags say) and he said it well: 9 out of 10 guys, who someday get the big chance, like f1 test etc., fail because they get tired after 15 laps. I wouldn't experience that... The old saying says when the mind is tired stress the body and same upside down!

if u want more specific stuff, write to akirask@kittymail.com

Warwick · 1 Jun 2003, 06:36 (Ref:616414)

Only started a 8 weeks ago and now go out twice a week mountain biking,bit lower impact than running,we do about 14-17 km a time which is only 35-40min but I have noticed a difference,I sleep better,get less stressed and don't feel as tired after a days work/racing.

Motorvation is the hard one,its very hard to get into the habit and very easy to get out of it,we have a group of us that have two nights organised a week and work and noramlly anywhere between 4-6 of us,if you're doing it with someone else its easier to keep at it.

DanFlag · 1 Jun 2003, 15:59 (Ref:616833)

Eat right,
Stay Fit,
Die anyway!

funny!

noweels · 1 Jun 2003, 20:09 (Ref:617080)

learn to lap within 1/10ths of Pole then get fit

Jensen · 2 Jun 2003, 09:17 (Ref:617509)

I find lots of Mcdonalds, late night drinking binges washed down with a mega kebab tends to ease the pain of the money spent at the last race weekend. As for being fit, I will leave that for the Halfords girls in TOCA.

racingdick · 2 Jun 2003, 13:26 (Ref:617746)

Quote:

Originally posted by Jensen
I find lots of Mcdonalds, late night drinking binges washed down with a mega kebab

It shows pal

Jensen · 2 Jun 2003, 14:28 (Ref:617830)

Quote:

Originally posted by racingdick
It shows pal

You may be confused as I keep my wallet in my shirt pocket which affects my size on profile.

woodyracing · 2 Jun 2003, 14:36 (Ref:617839)

full of Mcdonalds receipts is it?

racingdick · 2 Jun 2003, 18:59 (Ref:618211)

if you got a thick wallet... fancy sponsoring me through Uni.
B'eng Motorsport Engineering and Design @ Swansea

racingdick · 2 Jun 2003, 19:00 (Ref:618214)

cheesey · 2 Jun 2003, 19:12 (Ref:618229)

Lifting pints in the local after work builds up arm and neck muscles!

noweels · 2 Jun 2003, 19:54 (Ref:618297)

Get your manager to find a personal trainer,nutritionist and a fitness guru. Buy a race car,transporter,hire a race engineer and 3 mechanics.Call me the end of the season and tell me how you got on

blue nose · 24 Feb 2004, 21:49 (Ref:884526)

Get a personal trainer its money well spent..I am now 2 stone lighter than two years ago, not sure about a fitness guru what ever that is?

JnrJnr · 24 Feb 2004, 22:48 (Ref:884615)

I go the the gym 3-4 a week, for about 1.5 hours a time. I will alternate between mainly CV excercise one session, and weights the next - concentrating on my upper body.

I havent been going too long, but can alreay start to see and feel the difference. Motivation is the hardest part, but after some good advice i work to my strengths. Rather than doing activities that i find hard or boring at the moment, i do the ones which i am good at/enjoy doing. This way i dont mind going to the gym quite so much, and sometimes even enjoy it!!

blue nose · 24 Feb 2004, 22:58 (Ref:884629)

Good man..Thats why I like a PT If I am on my own I get a bit lazy ,But this fitness nut pushes me very hard I am getting to like it..I have not lost a game of squash till my op ..Well I lost today but have got a good excuse LOL

Redracer77 · 24 Feb 2004, 23:00 (Ref:884632)

I drink too much eat too much and sit in front of a PC talking on 10/10ths too much

So don't have time to work out. As much as I would love to but I work too long hours

blue nose · 24 Feb 2004, 23:07 (Ref:884641)

Chris you can tell LOL

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