Program Design Articles

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The following articles are meant to improve the design of any exercise program.  An understanding of physiology, exercise science and programming will make you feel more confident that your training program is constructed well.  On the flip side, you might discover that your training program needs some major improvements... it's ok though, this is the place to fix it.

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Caleb Ewan's Sprint Position - Revealed through Kinesiology

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Caleb Ewan has been disrupting the sprint scene with a "new" sprinting technique that combines the aerodynamic benefits of a super tuck with a modified pedal stroke. Below is a still grabbed from the video (at end of post): Sprinting in a low position isn't new; in fact, some of the riders that followed (off screen) were in a lower position than Caleb Ewan. What's different is that whenever he assumes this position, the six O'clock position of his pedal stroke shifts backwards to seven O' clock. This only happens if he primarily uses hip extension (gluteal muscles) to move the pedals. Being able to continue using the strongest muscles of the body in an extremely aero position is the secret to his success. WHY THE 7 O'CLOCK SPRINT TECHNIQUE IS THE FASTEST There are two things that matter in a sprint: 1. Power 2. Mass Sprinters have the problem of having more power than mass. When you have more power than mass, the power you send to the pedals will also
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Eagle Creek Park Cycling Grand Prix v2.0 - FIRST PLACE & FIRST PODIUM FINISH!

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I can't even begin to describe how awesome it felt to have two dreams come true at once!  I always wondered what it would be like to be on the podium, but I never thought I had a chance at first place! THE COURSE Below is a map of the course highlighted in blue.  It ran counterclockwise.  There were a few corners that stuck out to me. Bottom right (corner #1):   This wasn't a very sharp corner, but the trees and brush made it difficult to see around it, so the group had a tendency to slow down and merge into a single line here. Top right (corner #2):  This corner was very sharp, so oftentimes the group would merge into one or two pacelines, especially at higher speeds. Top left (corner #3):   The inside half of this corner was covered by loose asphalt, so it wasn't an ideal or safe place to pass.  Pretty much everyone had to take a very awkward, wide line.  We could only fit about three abreast in this corner. Bottom left (corner #4):  This was a very fast co
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Glute Activation Test for Athletes

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THE ULTIMATE GLUTE ACTIVATION TEST: The knee limited single leg squat. This simple test (video below) identifies compensation patterns and the participant's ability to overcome them.  This is a great test for anyone participating in sports or activities that require single leg power and control (running, cycling, basketball, football, soccer, raquet sports, climbing, etc).  I initially created this test to evaluate my progress towards reducing quad dominance, but I discovered that it can also reveal activation abnormalities in the deep hip rotators and core.  Since it does not require normal ankle mobility (dorsiflexion) or normal hip mobility (flexion), it's a great way to dissect your squat form and reveal imbalances that might have gone unnoticed. PASSING SCORE: Head, torso, knee does not touch the foam roller. Hip, knee and ankle maintains anatomical alignment throughout the entire movement. Thoracic spine remains neutral. Scapula remains in neutral position.
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