When was your last anatomy lesson? Click here. Here is a terrific video animation of the cardiac cycle (which I came across this week at Meddy Bear's Facebook page). Simple and easy to understand, it shows the sequence of events in a single heart beat: The Cardiac Cycle The video very clearly shows the major blood vessels (both arteries and veins) that shunt blood into or out of the heart chambers (i.e., the two atria and two ventricles). Notice how important the heart valves ar...

I came across an article that was published at CyclingTips a couple of years ago, '"I thought I was going to die" Will Walker retires from pro cycling'. It provides very good insight into the issues surrounding Athlete's Heart. The personal account of former Australian pro cyclist, Will Walker, contains invaluable information on the symptoms to be aware of when you are training long and hard. His story highlights the importance to recognise and respond to warning sig...

I discovered the value of magnesium a few years ago when one of my experienced swimming friends suggested that I take it for cramps that I was experiencing in my calf muscles towards the latter part of my swim training sessions. I went and bought some magnesium tables and, yes!  They actually seemed to work. While I don't swallow vitamin supplements religiously, I tend to take magnesium tablets when my training load is getting quite high, especially when I am increasing my distance...

According to recent research out of The Ohio State University, endurance athletes who 'go against the grain' are incredible fat burners. The common practice of consuming a heavy carbohydrate meal before your long run or bike in order to perform your best is being challenged by new scientific data. Eating fats and protein leading into your event can be an effective way to double your fuel efficiency. Fats provide 9 calories per gram of fuel compared with carbohydrates which provide 4...

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recently updated their guidelines on 'Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes with Cardiovascular Abnormalities'. With respect to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a matter obviously close to my own heart and the single most common cause of sudden death in young competitive athletes in the United States, the new disqualification/eligibility guidelines do not differ that mu...