When new athletes ask Wayne Blazejczyk how they can improve their game, one facet they commonly want to build upon is their endurance and stamina. Stamina and endurance are an essential part of any athlete’s repertoire as they determine how long a player can contribute to their team’s efforts in hopes of bringing them to victory. Luckily for players hoping to improve, there are many ways that an athlete can work on them to become the best players they can be. Here, Wayne Blazejczyk discusses a few things to keep in mind when practicing that can make a difference.
One issue that athletes commonly run into when trying to improve their stamina and endurance is that they jump to intense workouts too quickly. Wayne Blazejczyk discourages taking on too much too fast because it can leave you feeling overexerted, overwhelmed, or discouraged. If you are new to endurance training, it is best to begin with moderate intensity cardio exercises for at least 15 minutes or so. Generally, an endurance regiment is at the right level of intensity for your individual needs if you breathe hard afterwards but can still speak without too much effort. After becoming acclimated, you can slowly increase how long your exercises last. Wayne Blazejczyk notes that after an athlete gets to about 30 minutes of cardio in their routine, they can experiment with increasing the intensity to further their endurance, stamina, and overall athletic performance.
Wayne Blazejczyk ASIC also speaks to how maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is key to improving endurance and stamina for sports. Food fuels the body and a diet that consists of foods that are low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean meats can be a great way to ensure that your body has what it needs to power through workouts, practices, and games. Some experts recommend having up to a third of the diet comprised of starches and complex carbs as they can contribute to long-lasting energy that you need for peak athletic performance. It can also be helpful to have healthy and high-energy snacks on hand during times where you are going to be exerting yourself, such as your workouts and practices. Closely linked to diet is the importance of staying hydrated, as Wayne Blazejczyk recognizes all the ways that water can assist with athletic endeavors. One important function of water is that it can help fight muscle fatigue and ensure that your body has access to fluids during periods of exertion.
Because improvements to stamina and endurance are typically done so that an athlete can perform well for longer, Wayne Blazejczyk acknowledges that one of the best ways to do so is to ensure your practice has a benchmark level of intensity. One simple way to build stamina and endurance is to reduce the amount of rest that you take in between your sets or exercises. Keeping rest times minimal will adequately prepare you for situations in games that prevent you from taking it easy and falling back. One caveat that Wayne Blazejczyk offers is to stay cognizant of the intensity of workouts to prevent overexertion. Always be sure to take rest times if necessary and remember that overexertion injuries will put you off track much quicker than dialing it down for a set will.
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