Sleep is so important! I never realized just how important it was until I started taking my fitness and health more seriously in University as an athlete and then when I started working full time as a personal trainer (5 am wakeup). Then I realized just how awesome naps are during the day. Thank you so much @casper for letting me try your very comfortable mattress and catch up on some of those precious ZZZ’s in your #snoozeroom in Toronto yesterday. And thank you for helping me learn more about just how to get the sleep I need. Look out for this traveling sleep room around Toronto for the next few weeks.
The following are some great tips from the folks at Casper on how to sleep like a champion - Sleep tips for athletes.
2015 Fitspirit Run - Toronto Recap - Train It Right
For the second year in a row I was an ambassador and Kinesiologist for FitSpirit. I got to travel all across the GTA and teach young elementary and high school girls about the benefits, importance and rewards of physical fitness. I also got to introduce them to running and strength training to get them in shape to run their first 5km or 10km. The race was at Downsview Park on a beautiful May day! There is nothing more rewarding than looking at girls who at first doubted their abilities complete their first race. I love making an impact and if I can encourage our youth in any way it would be through teaching them what I have done and how I got to where I am through fitness and sport.
The 2015 FitSpirit Toronto Run at Downsview Park in May was a huge success and gave over 3,000 teenage girls the opportunity to complete the challenge of a 5k or 10k run.
Check out the video and feel free to share the link in the spirit of sport and physical activity!
I hope that the short glimpse into the FitClub provides the inspiration to get us all moving.
Asics is introducing the ASICS training collection. This collection will be a line of shoes and apparel designed to help athletes reach the next level and "Better their Best."
This takes dynamic warm up to a whole different level. Props to the girl for being in the zone. Miley Cyrus you have started a problem haha
This is long and slightly self-indulgent - feel free not to read. A bit on the Boston Marathon, a bit on my blessings, and a bit on wonderful people.
So I finished the Boston Marathon on Monday about 8 minutes after my goal time and 54 minutes before disaster struck the area. The preceding 54 minutes had been absolutely grueling for me as a runner. I had gone hard after a goal pace, felt buoyed for a long time by my progress but eventually was overwhelmed with cramping and pain brought on by what I now understand to be insufficient training for the course type and nagging injuries. As, my pace slowed dramatically I was passed by literally 1000+ people. The last 10km of the marathon were a blur and took every ounce of my strength just to finish without succumbing to a walk - I wobbled the last 400m but got across. I was offered medical attention several times as I pressed through the recovery area while at the same time feeling totally blessed. When I finally met up with my family I had to fight back tears - of which I knew not the source. In some ways it was pride for battling through, in another it was disappointment from being so far from my goal, in another way it was just the inability to cope with anything else after pushing myself so hard for so long and finally it was pure thankfulness for having had the opportunity to experience the Boston Marathon. During the race - mostly before the cramping and pain - I remember wishing that every runner had the opportunity to run that course, in those conditions, with that support. It's a selfish experience in many ways - brought about my much personal sacrifice but also the sacrifices of families - as is the case with my family and the wonderful Karyn Crann-Hamilton.
Anyhow, after the race we quickly hustled to the subway, eventually getting out near the parking garage at the hotel Karyn and kids had stayed at the night before.
As we drove north out of Boston I kept recapping the enormous highs and lows of the race to Karyn - she knows what it's like to live with someone who runs marathons and is great at always seeming interested. As we drove, a fairly steady stream of police cars was heading south on the I-95 - we were oblivious. When we stopped in Portland for supper I turned on my phone to chat with my parents and say happy birthday to my dad - which I inevitibly forgot to do when overcome with the hundreds of messages I received about my safety and whereabouts. It was terrifying and touching all at once. As I sat in the lobby of the Olive Garden trying to reply to as many texts, tweets, posts, e-mails, and calls as possible I was brought to tears. I saw myself in those affected directly by the tragedy (one of those families is just like mine) and was overwhelmed with the love that I felt from some many.
We sat at the Olive Garden and ate (I had the tour of Italy) - the kids oblivious to the whole thing. I was still wearing my Marathon jacket which I won't take off for awhile now and a group of three women noticed it. They started chatting with me briefly and quietly about the day - such concern showing through on their faces. They said they were from the Woodstock - Florenceville area, we didn't talk about what had brought them to Portland Maine. Anyhow, upon leaving one of the women put on her on my table and whispered "put this toward your meal" and left cash behind for us to pay. I stood up to chase them down and refuse to take the money and then I didn't - I didn't know if it would be insulting and I wasn't sure if I could catch them given the state of my quads. I sat there touched and moved. I tried to get their name from their waitress but they had paid in cash with no identifying information.
On a day when someone (or more) did something so horrific, complete strangers were making warm gestures in a city two hours away toward someone who wasn't even really affected by the tragedy. This lifted my heart. Our waiter was really nice to the kids during the meal, so I immediately paid forward the cash component of this woman's kind gesture but I look forward to continually paying forward the sentiment from which it came.
Wonderful things happen in this life, sometimes they hold hands with tragedy. I'm fortunate, as are most, that this tragedy didn't directly effect me - it will however propel me to do more and be more when others are in need. Also, if you are a runner and dream of Boston - it's worthy of your dreams and sacrifices.
If you happen to be reading this and know who these women might be please send me a note as I'd like to contact them directly.
- Ryan Hamilton
You can find him on facebook here. This is where he made the post.
Q: Full Name/Nick Names (why)?
Patrick Robinson. They call me "Pat The Roc" because I dribble the basketball so quick, it's like I'm "Patting" the ball!
Q: What is your sport and why did you choose to pursue it?
Basketball is my passion! Been playing since I was 5. My mom taught my brother and I how to shoot, ever since then I loved the game.
Q: Who inspired you?
I was inspired by a guy that passed a message on to me which was 3 letters. "A.i.P." which stands for Anything is Possible! That message changed my life.
Q: What sets you apart from other athletes?
On the court, my creativity. I can do just about anything with a basketball. Off the court my positive message. I take advantage of my platform and try to inspire kids as much as possible. I wish all athletes were that way.
Q: Favorite memory from your sport?
Playing in Africa in front of a sold out crowd. There were people watching the game hanging off the fence, from the trees, and literally surrounding the court. One of the most intense enviroments to hoop in!
Q: How do you train for your sport?
I have a regimen of running early in morning, usually 3 miles. Try to make atleast 1000 jumpshots a day, dribble drills 2 hours, weights/crossfit 1 hour, Hills/stairs, and one on one or 5 on 5.
Q: Fav drill?
Anything involving 2 basketballs! Dribbling one ball has become too easy!
Q: What does your typical workout include? Does it vary each day? How many days a week? Everyday I train. I focus on different skills each day. One day may be legs, improving my hops. Another day might be lots of pushups in between basketball drills to increase my strength. Depends on what I'm working on.
Q: Top 3 exercises you like to do in the gym?
Q: Any upcoming projects? Ballup tv show this summer on mtv2, movie "Note To Self" coming to BET, Pat The Roc Skills Academy Tour coming to a city near you!
Q: Where do you see yourself in the future? A guy that every basketball player in the world models theirselves after on and off the court.
Q: Words of wisdom to others or favorite quote....
