Sports Then and Now

It is believed that marathon is the most difficult of all races as it is the ultimate test of fortitude, where sportsmen can rely on own muscles and fighting spirit only. A professional marathoner runs at an average speed of 20 kilometers per hour, which is twice more than the speed of reindeer migration, and it’s being done without any special equipment or tools.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, which ratifies world records in the marathon. So, who are they, the fastest people in the world?

The World’s Fastest Marathoners: Men

1. Dennis Kimetto from Kenya was recognized as the best marathon runner: he broke the previous world record in Berlin, on September 28, 2014, with his winning 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 57 seconds. Dennis grew up in a family of athletes, one day he had to quit doing sports and start helping his parents on the farm instead because of financial issues. But when watching the broadcasts of the Sydney Olympics races, the future athlete realized that he must devote his life to running. Interesting fact: Dennis Kimetto could probably beat a horse in a 26.2-miler.

2. Kenenisa Bekele is a 34-year-old world champion from Ethiopia. He won the Berlin Marathon in 2016 (2 hours, 3 minutes, and 3 seconds), moving Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) down to the fourth place from the second one, where he had been with his 2:03:13 since the Berlin Marathon in 2014. Kenenisa is also a repeated world champion (2003-2009), three-time Olympic champion (in Athens and Beijing), twice world record holder at a distance of 5 and 10 km. The athlete says that everything began in childhood when he had to run to school, which was 10 km far from his house!

3. Eliud Kipchoge is the athlete from Kenya, who took the third place in the rate, which previously belonged to his countryman Patrick Makau (2:03:38 in Berlin, 2011). Eliud took part and won the Rotterdam and Chicago Marathons in 2014, beat his personal record at the Berlin Marathon (5 seconds faster) and first appeared at the London Marathon in 2015, won a gold medal at Rio 2016 Olympics. But only at the London Marathon 2016, he became the 1st with a track record and a new personal record of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 5 seconds. Read the rest of this entry →

Dealing with a sports injury can be difficult. Whether your injury is a broken bone or a sprained ankle, the recovery process can be both physically and mentally painful. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get yourself off the sidelines and back on the field as quickly as possible.

Ask the Right Questions

Immediately following your accident, take some time to gather facts about your injury. Ask your medical professional questions like, “what physical activities can I participate in? How long does it typically take to recover from this type of injury?” Once you get these answers, the next step is to identify what your treatment options are and select what works best for you.

Find Your Team

In order to get back on your feet as quickly as possible, you need a network of health providers who specialize in dealing with your unique type of injury. For a knee injury or shoulder injury, the specialists at places like Western Orthopaedics can provide state-of-the-art care. When you are well enough to begin training again, be sure that your trainer remains in close contact with your physical therapist. If you do not already have a trainer, your physical therapist may be able to help you find someone to assist with your re-entry into the sport. Read the rest of this entry →

As a coach, it should be your top priority to keep your athletes safe. In fact, it may be a higher priority than trying to win the game. The good news is that there are many steps that you can take to keep your players safe while also putting them in the best position to succeed.

Take a Conservative Approach to the Game

It may be possible to keep injuries to a minimum by taking a conservative approach to the game. For instance, you may want to prevent younger pitchers from throwing pitches involving the use of their elbow. Football coaches may discourage quarterbacks from throwing passes to wide receivers in the middle of the field.

Make Players Wear Optional Safety Equipment

Athletes will do anything for a competitive edge even if it may put their physical health at risk. This means that they may wear smaller pads or even forego pads at all if it slows them down or otherwise hinders their ability to play the game properly. As a coach, you should only play those who wear all required and even optional equipment as well to make sure no one gets hurt. Read the rest of this entry →

A swimming pool is one of the biggest dreams a homeowner can have. The fact is that most people imagine friends and family splashing in their backyard at some point in their lives. If you’ve actually got the space and cash, you might be thinking of really adding one.

There’s more to owning a swimming pool than just splashing in the sun though. In fact, there’s a little bit of hard work that your somebody else is going to have to do. That shouldn’t stop you from getting the pool of your dreams though!

Keep reading to learn what you need to know before you install a swimming pool. You’ll be happy that you have some basic knowledge once that pool is installed and you’re swimming like a dolphin.

Pick the Right Style

There are a lot of styles of pools out there despite what you see in most people’s backyards. The fact is that you can even create a custom swimming pool in any shape or design as long as it works with your backyard.

When choosing a swimming pool design, consider how you want the pool to be used and who is going to be using it. If you’re really putting it in for family and friends, you want a pool that’s large and has multiple depths.

However, if you’re mainly putting in a pool for adult family members or you want to swim for exercise, a single depth lap pool may be the ideal option. Lap pools are also excellent for smaller backyards and more modern homes since their typically geometric shape often looks best with contemporary homes. Read the rest of this entry →

If your physical conditioning is on a level similar to most Americans, chances are that you would not be able to handle the wear and tear that professional sports players endure on a constant basis.

While professional athletes do a lot on their own to perform at the highest levels, they are also helped by many sports medicine and exercise science professionals who are able to keep them on the field, court, ice, track, or swimming pool despite the punishment their bodies are frequently exposed to.

High-profile athletes such as Serena Williams, Ronaldo and Tom Brady tend to have an army of medical professionals ready to render treatment so that these sports stars can continue to perform and entertain us. Below are three professionals whose work is crucial in this regard.

Athletic Trainers

Many famous pro athletes have turned athletic trainers due to their intimate knowledge of the sports they played. They usually return to school to learn more about sports medicine; however, some of the best trainers have focused solely in their field without having participated in a professional capacity.

In 2011, Sue Falsone made history as the first woman named to the position of head trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ariko Iso previously made headlines as the first female trainer in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. These two teams went on to enjoy winning seasons under the supervision and care of these trainers. Read the rest of this entry →

For Sport athletes, accidents come unexpectedly and can result in a sprained ankle, broken bone, or a muscle tear. However, there is no secret formula for healing from sports injuries. The key to a fast recovery lies in simple measures that are often overlooked. The following web page will share some tips of gaining fast recovery from an athlete accident.

RICE (Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation)

Experts recommend the RICE procedure to reduce swelling, relieve pain, and to fast track healing after a minor athletic injury. The first step is to limit regular activities. The next steps involve putting ice on the injured part and exerting pressure to prevent swelling. Make sure you take the ice off every 20 minutes to prevent a cold injury. You can use an elastic wrap or air cast to put pressure on your injury. Lastly, you should elevate the injured area at a level that is above the heart for minimal swelling. The RICE approach is usually used before a person seeks advance medical treatment. If a RICE strategy does not work, it means your injuries are severe and you should seek the counsel of professionals such as those at McLaughlin & Lauricella, P.C. in addition to getting medical attention.

Change Your Diet

Macro nutrients will help you heal from an injury faster. Proper nutrition increases the supply of nutrients transported by blood to the injured area. Avoid consuming foods that increase inflammation. These include foods such as cayenne, eggplant, potatoes, hot peppers, tomatoes, and processed flour. Instead, eat foods that accelerate healing such as juice from organic vegetables, foods rich in omega 3 acids, ginger, garlic, beets, and radishes. Additionally, focus on foods that are high in zinc, calcium, glucosamine sulfate, manganese, and multivitamins. Read the rest of this entry →