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42 — Sunday, February 7, 1999 — North Shore News

Reatly, set go — tips N. Shore gymna

north shore news

@ SPORTS

to set up and running ==

A definition of health:
Sounduess of bodily functions:
ficedom from disease: physical
and mental well beings “the
first wealth.”

SO said Ralph Waido
Emerson and even
though he probably
didn’t jog he certainly
understood the con-
cept of physical fitness.

This is the third and final
column on a series intended
for people who have thought
about jogging/running as a
way of getting and/or main-
taining fitness but weren't
sure how to go about it.

The first two commen-
taries focused on clothing
required to start during our
winter months along with
overcoming some emotional
obstacles that some people
may have.

Okay, you've decided to
take the leap, vou’ve got
your gear and have maybe
even experimented with a lit-
tle training on your own.

There are several other
concepts that can be
embraced to help enjoy the
experience and in doing so
giving yourself'a greater
chance for long term suc-
cess.

Tip #1

Get some decent running
shoes that are designed for
your own fect — not for
your wife, husband, son or
daughter. Check whether
you supinate, pronate or

ave a high instep.

Heavier athletes generally _

need more cushioning and
many potential speed
demons will find that cor-

~ rectly fitted orthotics can

help tremendously.

More expensive does not
necessarily mean a better
shoe for you so go some-
where with qualified staff

that can answer your ques-
tions honestly and intelli-

gendy without the priority
being your fiseal potential.

Tip #2

Warm-up slow and casy
and finish strong. Don’t
stretch until you've finished
your run and even then go
casy on those joints and
muscles. I sce some people
stretch like it’s the last dav,
resembling the wishbone
trom last Thanksgiving’s
turkey about to be snapped
(ouch!),

Tip #3

If you're trying to
increase your speed and want
to do interval work, try hill
running instead of the track.
Work the climb, backing off
on the level and downhill
sections.

There is much less chance
of injury and the aerobic sys-
tem can be challenged at
higher levels with less skele-
tal stress.

Tip #4

We live in an amazing
environment with trails
everywhere so whenever pos-
sible get on a soft surface to
reduce pounding and poten-
tial injury.

Failing that you can
always purchase some gel
insoles for your running
shoes, which definitely helps
reduce the impact.

‘Tip #5

Join a club. We are social
creatures (well most of us
anyway) and are usually
happy inceracting with ‘other
members of our species.

Phone your local reere-
ation centre for information
or check out the local run-
hing store,

Tip #6

Ifyou find you get blis-
ters, just grease the offend:
ing area with vaseline betore
vou start. It anly takes a
moment bur can really
impact on your overall com-
fort. You can also toughen
your skin by applying rub-
bing alcohol on a regular
basis to vulnerable skin areas
(no drinking it though)

The product Second Skin
is another good option, par-
ticularly if a blister is already
starting to form.

Tip #7

Make it fun and interest-
ing by varying your training
environment — incorporate

trails, city parks and seawalls.

Tip #8

Listen to your body.

As you become increasingly
athletic you'll be more
attuned to your own physi-
ology and will learn when to
pull back or take a brief
break and hit the swimming
pool.

The single easiest way for
any athlete, recreational
through elite, to become
faster and stronger is not to
get injured.

These are just some of
the ideas that can help you
enjoy, challenge and reward
yourself in this wonderful
athletic arena.

They say if you can’t
enjoy running in Vancouver
you won’t enjoy it anywhere
so do some of the right
things and sign up for the
next local Skm, 10 km, half
marathon or whatever.

You'll never look back!

— Shane Collins is a phys-
ical trainer and athletic
conch as well as an accom-
plished ultra endurance run-
ner and marathon swimnrer.

NEWS photo Julle fverson

NATHALIE Balfour is a picture of concentration
competing in the national senior beam event.

Sts shine

FLICKA gymnasts did an
outstanding job of repre-
senting their club this
weekend at the 26th
annual North Shore
Invitational.

Results tor Flicka Gymnasts in
the all-around competitive fevels
ars as follows:

Senior National:
Balfour, second,

Junior National: Breanne
King, first; Desiree Day, sixth.

Level Four Open: Maria
Celkova, second.

Level Three Open: Zoc
Boucher, first.

Tyro: Kindle Blythe,
Holly Kingan, third.

Midget: Angela Walker,
fourth; Melissa Mann fifth,

Level Two Open: Sarah
Mullen, sixth.

Tyro: Michelle Cuthbert,
first; Taisha Garby, second; Kati
Szabo, fourth; Ashley Gelhede
fifth.

Midget:
McCluskey,
Schmidt, fifth.

Level One Open: Cambrea
Buchamer, first.

Tyro: Justine Lo, second.

Midget: Taija Jagodnik, sec-
ond; Laura Archer, fourth; Fiona
Neill, sixth.

The North Shore Invitational
also served as the trials for the
Canada Winter Games. The top
seven National category gym-
nasts in B.C.were picked to rep-
resent B.C.’,s gymnastics team.

Breanne King, Nathalie
Balfour and Desiree Day will rep-
resent B.C. in the Winter Games
in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland
later this month.

Nathalie

first;

Rhiannon
second; Haley

Enter our Valentines

Contest on Feb.10 and

you'll have a chance at

winning either this lovely
necklace, courtesy of
Diamond Goldman
Jewellers(value $1100),
or Dinner for Two
(value $100) at one of the
restaurants participating in
our annual Valentines
feature. Drop off the entry
form at either Diamond

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Test date is February 27/99.
Anplicertion information:
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Grades 8 to 12

Test date is Mery 7/99.
Application ‘aformation:

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or the North Shore News.

DIAMOND “Si” GOLDMAN

JEWELLERS
Park Royal North, West Vancouver

in Education 926-3738

Since 1931 I

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