Functional Training Summit - Download

I've been getting lots of requests for the booking form so to speed the process up click on the link to take you straight to a PDF file which contains everything you need to know about the Functional Training Summit in April.

If you still need further information you can e-mail me at nick@smartfitness.org.uk

Robert Dos Remedios is on his way...

Back in December I announced that Coach Robert Dos Remedios would be holding a 2 day seminar in April 2009.

Well, I can now announce full details and you can download your registration form right here.

The seminar will be taking place on April 25th and 26th and will be hosted by Smart Fitness, with EXF providing vital support throughout the event. We have a great venue, Kingston Park Stadium (home of the Newcastle Falcons).

This will be the first time Coach Dos has presented in the UK and I know it is going to be a fantastic seminar. In addition to Coach Dos I have managed to line up some great home grown talent. Full details of the event and registration details are on the attached file, but here is an idea of what you can expect at the seminar.

The Smart Fitness Functional Training Summit has been developed to provide trainers, coaches, athletes and therapists with a combination of lectures and hands-on learning experiences with top professionals working in the strength and conditioning, and fitness industries.

The presenters include leaders in the areas of training, conditioning and rehabilitation: Robert Dos Remedios, Nick Grantham, Neil Parsley and Nick Ward.

Topics covered include:
Power Training Through Performance-Based Conditioning
Total Training for Combat Sports - Conditioning for the modern combat athlete
Performance Planning Matrix – Optimising the Planning Process
Utilising Combination Lifts – Complex's, hybrids and combinations
CHAOS Speed Development – Taking Your Sport Speed to the Next Level
Ultimate Core Conditioning – Strong and Stable
Decision Training: Confusion-Distraction-Disruption

I'm just organising a link to download the registration form but if you don't want to wait and you fancy getting the jump on everyone else drop me an e-mail at nick@smartfitness.org.uk and I'll send you the registration forms and answer any questions you may have.

Keep an eye out on the blog for the link at some point during the next week

A moment on the lips.....

I came across this clip on Coach Dos' blog and thought I would share it with you. How long before this franchise comes over to the UK.....I shudder to think! (there is a short commercial first....keep watching though as you will be amazed!)


Watch CBS Videos Online

Smart Fitness Functional Training Summit

We can now confirm the dates and venue for the Smart Fitness Functional Training Summit. Block some time in your diary for the 25th and 26th of April and make some travel plans to get you to Newcastle Upon Tyne. The event will be held at Kingston Park Stadium (home of the Newcastle Falcons) and will be a unique opportunity to see one of America's leading strength and conditioning coaches in the UK, Coach Robert Dos Remedios. Coach Dos will be delivering two feature presentations as well as another two fully interactive hands on training sessions. We have also lined up some other great speakers, more information on the full line up and session outlines will be available later this week.

If you want more information you can send an e-mail to nick@smartfitness.org.uk

Smart Fitness/TRI Seminar Series

Smart Fitness are teaming up with Total Racing International Coaching to bring you a seminar series that will offer the unique opportunity to learn how strength and conditioning can improve improve your triathlon performance.

The dates for the seminars are Feb 14th, March 14th, April 18th and May 9th. Each seminar will take place on a Saturday morning and will be based in Newcastle. The sessions will last for approximately 2 hours combining a classroom session followed by a practical hands on session with an optional ride afterwards.

The Seminars will cost just £25 each or if you book all 4 get one for free (ie £25 discount)

Spaces are restricted to 15 people to ensure we can create a good learning environment and the sessions are open to anyone interested in improving their personal best (from novice through to pro). Make sure you book early to avoid dissapointment!

To Book contact phil@totalracinginc.com or nick@smartfitness.org.uk

Dates and Topics:

February 14th
Strength Training for Triathletes - £3k bike - 50pence Legs!

For most triathletes the benefits of strength training are outweighed by the fear of gaining too much bulk, loss of flexibility and diminished "feel" of their sport. Discover how a well designed strength and conditioning programme will help you unlock your potential. Nick will show you how you can start to run and swim more efficiently whilst producing and maintaining higher power outputs on the bike, all of which will ultimately help you perform better and steer clear of injuries.

March 14th
Flexibility Training for Triathletes - Unravelling the Knots

Possibly the most forgotten aspect of training. Hours spent running, cycling and swimming will play havoc with your muscles and result in your sub optimal functioning, poor performance and an increased risk of injury. This session will explain the importance of developing your flexibility and then take you through some of the best techniques for improving your flexibility levels.

April 18th
Recovery and Regeneration – The 24hour Triathlete

You don’t get fitter from training – you get fitter by recovering from training. Find out how using the Recovery Pyramid will help you unlock your potential so that you can train hard without falling apart. In this session Nick will show you that it is not the 2 hours you spend training that are important, but what you do in the other 22 hours!


May 9th
Injury Prevention – Bullet Proof Triathletes

If you suffer from injuries then this is the session for you. Nick has a regular column in sports Injury Bulletin and in this session he will share with you the most effective injury prevention strategies that will help to keep you training. Nick will look at common injuries caused by each discipline and he will then show you how you can avoid them in the first place! If you have ever suffered from a painful Achilles, sore feet, swimmers shoulder, or knee pain then this is one session that you don’t want to miss.

Happy New Year

So 2009 is well and truely underway and I'm really looking forward to what it will offer up. Last year saw me get back into shape and as a result I completed a couple of targets that I set for myself. This first one sort of snuck up on me halfway through the year and was really a result of working with a number of triathletes.

In June 2008 I completed my first triathlon. It was a fantastic day and I have to say it gave me a taste for what is possibly one of the most ridiculous sports i've ever taken part in! Whilst I was happy to complete the course I didn't manage to swim the whole of the open water course freestyle so this is something I'm now working on. During the Christmas break I headed over to take a dip in an endless pool to have my technique broken down! Needless to say I was an open book and the swim coach compeltely changed how I was swimming (like a brick)and I've now got a host of drills that will help me achieve my goal in May at my first Tri of the season in Alnwick (complete the full 500m swim freestyle!).

The second target was to complete the Great North Run...you can't live in Newcastle and no complete the run at least once. So in October I joined 52,000 other runners to take part in the Great North Run, and whilst I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of running anything more than about 6 miles I was pleased to finish the legendary course and raise some money for the Rainbow Childrens Trust.

So what my the fitness and training goals for 2009. Well at the moment the first thing I'm working on is shifting some of my Christmas bulge - this is a pretty simple task as I'm using my friend and colleagues proven training programme - Alwyn Cosgroves Real World Fat Loss programme is one of the best on the market........my task to shed some excess baggage is simple....simple as in it really works, tough in that you have to work hard to get the results but then nothing that is worth having comes easy!

As I mentioned before I'm going to nail this swimming thing and make sure I can complete at least 500m freestyle and that will set me up for completing at least 3 sprint tri's this year.

In August I'm going to take part in the Newcastle Rat Race with an old college friend. I've always wanted to take part in an Urban Adventure race but had real problems running but now that I've sorted those out there will be nothing stopping me...other than the obsticles they put in our way!

Professionally I'm really excited about a number of projects that we have coming up. The first is a UK seminar with Coach Robert Dos Remedios in April. The other project is a new triathlon training manual that I'm developing and it should be available early 2009. I'm looking forward to keeping you all up to date with developments and if you have any questions about anything featured in this blog just let me know.

All the best.

Nick