No better way to welcome our new coach Jeff than a classic Yard 20 questions. Jeff is a former competitive hockey, rugby, football, and basketball player. This sports fanatic has a passion for all things Strength & Conditioning.  Let’s get to know our new coach a little better!

1) Hometown?

Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

2) How did you first hear about Yard?

Through a local friend of mine that I met in Vancouver.

3) What was your first experience with Yard?

Relaxed but impressed. The yard was relatively empty during my interview with Ilan, but I could tell that a lot of care was put into the building and maintenance of The Yard to look and provide what it does to its members. As members would cycle through I also noticed the very welcoming nature that everyone shared as well.

4) Favorite lift?

Deadlift, you against gravity, who will win?

5) Least favourite exercise? 

Not a big burpee guy…

6) How do you stay motivated?

Ambitious goals and a curiosity to see what I can achieve for myself.

7) Best advice you received? 

It does not have to be as hard as you think it does.

8) Worst advice?

Can’t remember, try to forget them….

9) Your favourite part about Yard?

The community of members and trainers! While diverse, everyone is very collaborative and supportive to see one another do well. I think The Yard does an amazing job of pushing people past their limiting beliefs in a very safe and inclusive manner.

10) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

Ah, tough one… I’ll go favourite artists instead:

• Linkin Park
• Rise Against
• Billy Talent

11) Go to post-workout meal?

Greek Yogurt, protein powder, seed butter, frozen fruit, honey, and a sprinkle of granola.

12) How did you start your fitness journey?

I fully dislocated my shoulder playing rugby, and my physio suggested that I start resistance training to reduce the likelihood of it happening again and to get stronger.

13) How would you describe the Yard environment? 

Uplifting. There is a sense of intimidation that I can sense from some outside individuals looking in initially, however that intensity is meant to try and elevate the members for their workouts/training in the time they are there. It is there to uplift you!

14) The last book you read?

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

15) Advice for someone coming to train with you for the first time?

Be willing to get your hands dirty, have a laugh, and learn some takeaways that you can use beyond our sessions.

16) What are you doing when you’re not at the Yard? 

Intern S&C coach at Simon Fraser University, reading books (self-development, finance, economics, philosophy), watching sports, sharpening my cooking skills, learning about Vancouver and BC.

17) Advice for someone who is starting their fitness journey?

People often OVERESTIMATE what they want to accomplish in the short term (3 months) and UNDERESTIMATE what they can accomplish in a year. Take that into consideration when you start and know that this is something that can help you enhance your life, not just be a fad.

18) What’s in your gym bag?

Lifting straps, lifting belt, wrist wraps, training shoes, oly lifters,  fat gripz, food (fruit or bars), lifting chalk, lacrosse ball.

19) Are you a morning person?

You know it, 4:30 am wake up most days of the week.

20) What’s your morning routine?

Honestly, I don’t really have one… Usually have a coffee brewing, catching up on some sport I missed or reading something before I jet out the door or start my work for the day.

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH COACH JEFF appeared first on Yard Athletics.

Our team has grown significantly over the past year and we are stoked to have Nick as one of our newest coaches. What better way to get to know him than a classic Yard 20 questions blog post! Let’s get to know our newest coach better!

1) Hometown?

East Selkirk, Manitoba

2) How did you first hear about Yard?

One of my friends from physio school, Matt Ney, told me he used to work here before moving to Australia for school

3) What was your first experience with Yard?

Instagram creeping which led to a cold-call email to Ilan about potential opportunities, and an interview shortly after that

4) Favorite lift?

Tie between Barbell Clean and Bench Press

5) Least favorite exercise? 

Steady-state running on a treadmill. Sooooo boring…

6) How do you stay motivated?

Passion for the human body and its capabilities, which leads me to want to set an example for others. Practice what you preach!

7) Best advice you received? 

Do a couple of push ups before getting your photo taken in a gym

8) Worst advice?

Deadlifts are bad for your back

9) Your favorite part about Yard?

High-quality equipment, welcoming yet serious atmosphere, and the accountability/work ethic that every person shows when they’re in. You never see anything half-assed in there.

10) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

– Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine

– When the Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin

– For Whom the Bell Tolls – Metallica

11) Go to post-workout meal?

Runny eggs, cubed potato/veggie hash, feta cheese, and spinach

12) How did you start your fitness journey?

I was always very fit and active and “athletic” from a very early age, but I had an unhealthy relationship with food which led to having an unhealthy relationship with my body image. I weighed close to 280 at my heaviest, which was not a healthy 280, even though I was playing in multiple sports throughout the weeks/months/years. Wasn’t until the end of first-year university that I decided to buckle down and change some eating habits while focusing on lifting more. It really snowballed from there, leading me to change my Bachelor’s degree one year before finishing into a Kinesiology degree and subsequent Doctor of Physiotherapy.

13) How would you describe the Yard environment? 

Loud music. Heavy weights. Amazing staff. Better clientele. What more could you ask for in a gym?

14) The last book you read?

Glute Lab: The Art and Science of Strength and Physique Training – Bret Contreras, Glen Cordoza

15) Advice for someone coming to train with you for the first time?

No matter what you think your barriers are to your goals (time, injuries, experience, interest, motivation, etc.), we can definitely work within those limits to make an effective and enjoyable experience each and every time.

16) What are you doing when you’re not at the Yard? 

Physiotherapy with clients, working on research, playing with my dog, being active outdoors, eating at high-end restaurants and hole-in-the-wall dives

17) Advice for someone who is starting out their fitness journey?

Don’t do it for anyone but yourself. You have to want to make the changes/choices you do. Otherwise the motivation and drive to stay committed is transient at best.

18) What’s in your gym bag?

Pair of Batman & Robin Converse Chuck Taylors, pre-workout, chalk, Bluetooth speaker, spikey rolley ball, Bluetooth headphones

19) Are you a morning person?

No issues with getting up at 4 am to lift/study/work if I plan my evening before properly

20) What’s your morning routine?

Check emails, take the dog out for a walk, grab bags (prepared the night before) and head out the door

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH COACH NICK appeared first on Yard Athletics.

We are back with another 20 questions post. Let’s get to know our newest coach a little bit better!

1) Hometown?

This one is tough to answer since I never lived in one spot for more than a few years at a time. I was born in London, England and grew up in Istanbul, Toronto, and Paducah, Kentucky. 

2) How did you first hear about Yard?

When I first moved to Vancouver, I connected with Reece aka @whiskeymuse on Instagram and she told me about this new, awesome gym. I came in for a class and loved it!

3) What was your first experience with Yard?

Not going to lie, I felt intimidated. I’m used to dropping into new Crossfit gyms when traveling and I’ve been a competitive powerlifting athlete for years but somehow coming into this space was kind of scary! That quickly changed and I felt right at home!

4) Favorite lift?

I tend to favor things I’m good at, so toss-up between deadlift and back squat.

5) Least favorite exercise? 

I avoid things I’m not good at! Rowing, especially as a short person is really difficult for me and I just avoid it!

6) How do you stay motivated?

I lean more towards discipline than motivation. Motivation comes and goes but discipline gives you structure and a reason to show up even when you don’t feel like it. I also set goals for myself that are outside of “be healthy.” Competing is one of them. I don’t want to step out on the platform and embarrass myself so I show up for my training sessions even when I don’t want to. 

7) Best advice you received? 

The first step is always the hardest, just get started. 

8) Worst advice?

Don’t lift too heavy, you’ll look like a man. 

9) Your favorite part about Yard?

The community! It’s more than a gym. The clients and the coaches, all make you feel like a part of the team. 

10) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

Left Behind – Slipknot 

Scars- IPrevail 

X Going’ Give it To Ya- DMX  probably the only time I listen to DMX is at the gym 

11) Go to post-workout meal?

Cheeseburger and a beer.

12) How did you start your fitness journey?

I played sports growing up and in grade 11 my high school had a weight lifting class, which I took and fell in love with. Unfortunately, I listened to the worst advice I received and quit lifting weights because I thought I would look like a man. In University, I went to the gym and even got a trainer but I just couldn’t make it a part of my lifestyle. In 2014 I joined a Crossfit gym which then introduced me to the world of Powerlifting and I was hooked. I competed in my first meet in 2015 in San Diego, and qualified and competed in Nationals. 

13) How would you describe the Yard environment? 

It doesn’t matter who you are outside of the gym, you are welcomed at Yard. It feels like a badass community that wants to be the best version of itself. Back to basics training, no crazy movements, just solid training. 

14) The last book you read?

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Currently reading Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

15) Advice for someone coming to train with you for the first time?

We’re going to have fun but train hard. 

16) What are you doing when you’re not at the Yard? 

Pre-Covid I would take any chance to travel whether it was short road trips or going abroad. Having moved to Vancouver during the pandemic, I’ve been trying to explore within the city and surrounding areas. I love checking out new breweries, hiking, traveling.

17) Advice for someone who is starting out their fitness journey?

Everyone is so focused on themselves, no one is looking at you or judging you. If you can, invest in a personal trainer that will teach you proper technique and push you. 

18) What’s in your gym bag?

Lifting belt, shoes (Metcons & Romaleos) deodorant, dry shampoo, and a snack. Always a snack haha. 

19) Are you a morning person?

I am. I haven’t always been but I do enjoy getting an early start on my day. 

20) What’s your morning routine?

I used to be the person to roll out of bed after snoozing far too many times and feel anxious the whole day. Now I have a pretty set routine that makes me slow down and start the day right. I love taking my cup of coffee back to bed and reading. Then I’ll take my dog Duke out for a walk, come back home do my skincare routine, get dressed, and go on with my day. I have never been a fan of eating breakfast so I’m glad the popularity of intermittent fasting is making that seem less weird now. Eventhough I consider myself a morning person I don’t love working out in the morning, mid-day/early evening works best for me.

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH COACH MELIS appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – Dec 17th, 2019

We all know that anxious feeling of going to bed for an early wake-up, and immediately calculating how much sleep you’ll get if you can just fall asleep right now.

Or there’s the dreaded “It’s-1:45am-and-I’m-still-at-the-bar-doing-shots-but-I-have-to-be-up-for-an-8:00am-meeting” kind of sleep calculations which we won’t even get into.

Sleep is a fascinating subject. From an evolutionary perspective, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense why we sleep. In theory, we’d be way more productive if we didn’t sleep, not to mention we expose ourselves to risk every time we close our eyes and doze off. Lots of people try to wear their lack of sleep as a badge of honor (“I only need 3 hours a night”) but they’re either lying to you, or lying to themselves.

Sleep is very, very important.

From this blog back in April, we talked about just how important it is to a healthy immune system (LINK). However, this recent studied published in Nature: Human Behaviour talks about the link between lack of sleep and anxiety. Unsurprisingly, the less sleep we get, the more anxious we become!

Obviously this can be tough, especially if one suffers from insomnia, as they will then feel anxious about not getting enough sleep, thus starting a feedback loop. I can’t sleep because I’m anxious, I’m anxious because I can’t sleep.

Many external factors can contribute to a bad sleep:

• Light
• Noise
• Temperature
• Pillow, Mattress, Bedding
• Injury, Pain
• Alcohol, Drugs, Medication
• Dehydration, Overhydration
• Diet

Take all these factors into account if you’ve been having trouble sleeping. Things like dimming lights an hour before bed, reducing screen time, wearing earplugs, adjusting the heat in your house, getting a good mattress, avoiding alcohol, these can all make a major difference.

Another often overlooked factor is stretching. When muscles are sore and tight, they can contribute to a bad sleep by causing restless tossing and turning, or just general soreness. Exercise is one of the best ways to stay healthy and thus get a better sleep, but remember to focus on stretching just as much.

From back in the early blogs days –> “Looking For A Better Sleep? Stretch Before Bed”

The post Sleepless Nights = Anxiety appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Nov 1st, 2019

Heads up to all our Yard Athletics community. As of today there have been some adjustments to the pricing for Group Training, as well as Customized Strength & Conditioning 1:1 and 2:1 packages.

Please take a look below and familiarize yourself with the new pricing. If you have any questions, feel free to email “info@yardathletics.ca”

See you in the gym! #YARDHARD

Athletic Group Training

Customized Strength & Conditioning

The post Price Adjustments For Groups, 1:1, 2:1 appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – Oct 25th, 2019

Ragu Bolognese, the slow cooked meat sauce typical of the city of Bologna, served often but not always with tagliatelle egg noodles, is well loved the world over. However, if you want to start a quick argument, try asking four Italian Nonna’s the “correct” way to make it. Questions like this are almost guaranteed to end in shouting, dramatic hand gestures, and hurt feelings.

Below is the version I like to cook, which I think would stand up nicely in any trattoria across Emilia-Romagna, and hopefully not offend too many grandmother’s. I’ve eaten ragu from Parma to Modena and this tastes just as good, if not better, so take that for what it’s worth…

There’s lots of debate around ragu Bolognese (milk, tomato, type of meat(s)). This version uses some milk, a little white wine, 3 different types of meat (sausage, beef, lamb) and a small spoon of tomato paste. If you want to add or subtract any of those, go right ahead.

Buon appetito!

Ragu Bolognese

• 6 Italian fennel sausages, uncased
• 250g ground beef
• 500g boneless stewing lamb, cut into tiny pieces
• 1 bottle dry white wine (Cono Sur Viognier is cheap and good for cooking)
• 500ml 2% milk
• 1/2 can tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp ground Coriander seeds
• 1 Nutmeg seed
• 1 large white onion, finely diced
• 1 large carrot, finely diced
• 2 sticks celery, finely diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, finely diced
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Butter
• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (for serving)

In a big pot, heat some olive oil and butter to melt, then add the carrot, celery, onion and garlic and begin to cook. Cook for 20 minutes slowly, making sure not to let the vegetables brown.

Add all the meats, season with salt and pepper, and start breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon. This takes a while, you don’t want any big chunks of meat. Everything should be very finely broken up, so take the time to make sure it’s nice and broken up.

Ragu Bolognese in waiting…

Turn the heat up and continue cooking. Add the bay leaves, coriander, and finely grate in half the Nutmeg seed. Now, this stage takes a while… like an hour. All the water will start releasing from the meat, and following that just the fat will be left, at which point you will keep stirring and cooking the meat until it start to brown. If the bottom of the pan seems too dry, add more butter and olive oil. If there’s not enough fat the meat will scorch to the bottom of the pan, ruining the sauce. Fat is your friend…

After ~1 hour, the meat should be starting to brown nicely. Add the tomato paste and start to fry it in the fat left in the pan. Keep stirring to caramalize all the meat in the tomato paste.

Then, add some white wine to deglaze the pan (~250 – 350ml), scraping everything off the bottom of the pot. Start with about 1/2 bottle of the wine, but use more if it seems too dry. Cook until almost all the wine has evaporated.

Then, add some milk (250 – 500ml) until the sauce looks quite loose, but not too watery. It should be reddy brown, like a brick. Lower the heat, cover with a lid, and allow to cook for an hour. After an hour, check the seasoning. Because you’re probably going to be eating this sauce with some sort of grain (pasta, risotto, polenta) you want it to be richly flavored and well seasoned. Season with salt and pepper.

If serving with pasta, add some of the ragu to a different pan and put on medium heat. Cook your pasta until 1 minute under package instructions, then toss the pasta in the ragu pan and cook for a final minute together. Toss in grated parmigiano reggiano and serve.

The post RECIPE – Ragu Bolognese appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Sept 19th, 2019

By far one of the most exciting merch collaborations Yard Athletics has done to date. Available now in the gym are both new YARD branded Ciele running hats, as well as YARD branded Specialized water bottles.

Ciele started in Montreal over 5 years ago, and has since grown to become the hat for runners around the world. These hats have the YARD logo on the front with Ciele Athletics stitched on the side. Hats are all black.

Ilan demonstrating the squeeze capabilities of the new Specialized water bottles

We’ve also got new Specialized water bottles covered in the Yard Athletics bull logo. They’re squeezable, meaning getting a quick sip of water without taking the lid off is super easy. Given Specialized and their history with road biking, we figured they would know what’s up.

Ciele Hat – $44.99 +tax

Specialized Water Bottle – $19.99 +tax

#YARDHARD

The post New Ciele Yard Hats + Specialized Water Bottles! appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – Sept 12th, 2019

This recipe might sound like something you made in college when there was quite literally 2 items left in the cupboard. But never fear! This is a delicious meal you can make week in, week out.

Do you like healthy lunch / dinner ideas you can make in ~30 minutes? Do you like food that is super cheap to prepare (~$6 for 2 people), can be done with minimal ingredients, and will help refuel sore muscles following a grueling #YARDHARD workout?

***huge cheer of people saying YES erupts***

AWESOME!

Fried rice is a blank canvas. You can throw almost anything in and it will likely be good. Use this recipe as a guideline and adjust as your taste dictates, or as you have things in the fridge that need using before they go bad.

Try to opt for tuna canned in oil (Rio Mare Tuna in Olive Oil being one of the best).

If you’re a real fancy pants, you can obviously use fresh tuna, or salmon, or even cod, chopped up very fine, then added to the pan at the same time as the tuna below.

Tuna Fried Rice

• 1 can of oil packed tuna (~150-200g), drained
• 1 cup of cooked and cooled rice (jasmine or sushi rice)
• 4 green onions, sliced finely
• Soy Sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• 2 eggs
• 1 leek, green part removed, white part chopped finely
• 1 carrot, chopped finely
• 1 jalapeno, chopped finely
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 1 pinch of sugar
• Olive oil
• 1 bunch Thai basil (optional)
• Dried Bonito flakes (optional)

First things first, get everything prepped. I mean, everything. Take the soy sauce out of the fridge, chop all the vegetables and put into bowls, crack the eggs. It will make cooking much easier.

Get a large frying pan over medium heat, add some oil, then add the leeks and carrots. Fry for a few minutes until they start to turn brown. Add the garlic, ginger and jalapeno, stir for a second, then add the tuna. Break up the tuna with a spatula until there are no big chunks left.

Crack both eggs into the hot pan, then add the rice. Use your spatula to scrape everything off the bottom of the pan, then do little “chop” motions downward to help break everything up and mix it together. The egg will start to cook with the rice, coating each grain.

Keep cooking, scraping the bottom (so the rice doesn’t stick) then mixing around. After ~5 minutes, sprinkle with a small pinch of sugar, then drizzle over soy sauce; probably more than you think. This is the main seasoning for the rice. Keep stirring, stirring, stirring until everything looks evenly coated. Taste a little bit… does it need more salt? Add more soy sauce.

Turn the heat off, add the green onions and Thai basil (if you’re using it) and stir around just so they begin to wilt a bit. Sprinkle with the Bonito flakes and serve with lime wedges.

The post RECIPE – Tuna Fried Rice appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Sept 5th, 2019

At long last… summer is over… *single tear streams down face*

That doesn’t have to be a bad thing! The approach of Fall means there’s a perfect excuse to get back in the gym (after a few too many summer patio drinks…) and tighten up that body. Your best bet? Book in for classes over the next few weeks on the MindBody app as things are starting to get busy in the gym.

Now, crushing your fitness goals means exercising, but it also means getting the right nutrition throughout the week so your body can recover. And to build more muscle you need…? PROTEIN

That brings us to our friends at Blonyx, who have just released a delicious new egg white protein powder. The best part? If you go online and use the “YARDHARD” discount code, you can get 10% off your purchase, along with any other Blonyx products you may need!

Some quick facts on the new Blonyx Egg White Protein Powder:

• 20g protein per serving
• 130 calories
• 4g BCAA’s
• Tastes great (no eggy taste)
• Mixes easily in water

THERAGUN

You might have also noticed some cool new toys in the Gym lately. These are called “Theragun’s“, a percussive therapy tool that allow you to get out all those pesky knots sitting in your legs, hips and backs, without asking your significant other to massage you all the time.

The benefits of percussive therapy are huge, with tons professional athletes using tools like Theragun to recover quicker. Next time you’re in the gym, give the Theragun a try. Also, if you’re interested in purchasing a Theragun give us a shout at “info@yardathletics.ca” to find out more details.

MERCH

We got merch people! See below for the current stocklist of what’s in the gym. We’re also taking orders on these wicked Jensen Lee Canvas Duffel Bags ($80) that we can customize with any name on the side panel. Send us an email “info@yardathletics.ca” to reserve yours now.

Snap Back – $39.99

Dad Hat – $29.99

Glute Bands – $35

Shaker Bottles – $10

Stickers – FREE

*** FINAL NOTE – please direct all booking and scheduling questions to “info@yardathletics.ca” or use the MindBody app, and refrain from texting or DMing on Instagram posts.***

The post Blonyx X Theragun X Merch appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – July 19th, 2019

#YARDWORK2019 is one day away! With a fully sold out event this is shaping up to be one of the best days of summer. A huge thank you to everyone who signed up, volunteered, organized and supported this amazing event getting put together.

Make sure to stop by the DJ tent and say hello… requests always welcome, just no guarantees I’ll have your track in the record bag 😉

For those who did YARDWORK 1.0 in Stanley Park, you know it was no cake walk. Chains were hauled, tires were flipped, and kettlebells were speed-walked at a very brisk pace. There were a lot of sore bodies the next day, which means fueling up with the right nutrition before / during / after the event is crucial to minimizing soreness, maximizing gains, and overall performing at your best.

Below are a few meal ideas for tonight, as well as breakfast ideas for tomorrow, snacks for during the day, as well as a stretching protocol.

NIGHT BEFORE // #YARDWORK2019

• Curious about trying intermittent fasting or a Ketogenic diet? Now is definitely not the time to start! Save it for next week. Training the body to run on stored body fat takes time, and if you’re not used to it you might crash and burn on the 50 yard line, halfway through a tire toss.
• “Carb loading” is the cliche before big sporting events, but there is no doubt your muscles need to be full of glycogen to perform at their best (glycogen being how the body stores sugar for energy).
• The night before, keep it simple:
  • Protein (chicken breast, chicken thighs, pork tenderloin, steak, tofu, cooked chickpeas)
  • Simple carbohydrate (pasta, rice, potato, sweet potato, squash)
  • Vegetables (salad, green beans, stir fried zucchini, roasted asparagus)
  • Avoid excess salt as you don’t want to get dehydrated
  • Limit alcohol, or abstain for one night (save it for the margarita bar at #YARDWORK2019…)
  • Water, water, water
• Stretching
  • Stretching should be done throughout your day, every day of the week. If you’re active, your muscles will constantly be getting tight due to the hard work you’re putting in, so stretching helps lengthen the muscle fibers, improving flexibility and preventing injury.
  • Get in a long, 10 minute stretch of the back, calves, hamstrings, quads, groin and neck the night before.

MORNING OF // #YARDWORK2019

• Again, simple carbs are key as you want to eat something easily digestible. Eating fried eggs and bacon is a bad idea, as those foods are much harder to digest and could leave you bloated and lethargic when the opening whistle starts.
• I can’t live without coffee, but before an event the caffeine can mess with your digestion, as well as dehydrate you. If you can, skip it and stick with water.
• Breakfast:
  • Oatmeal with berries, nut butter, yogurt + scoop of protein powder
  • Toast with nut butter, jam, yogurt
  • Natalie Cumberbirch’s “Coconut Peanut Energy Balls”
  • Ashley Hildebrand’s “Chickpea Flour Banana Pancakes”
  • Henry’s daily breakfast shake
    • 1/3 cup rolled oats, soaked in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes
    • 1 pinch cinnamon
    • 1 tsp honey
    • 1 scoop chocolate vegan protein powder
    • 1/3 banana
    • 2 ice cubes
    • 3 tbsp’s kefir yogurt (optional)
• Stretching#2
  • There will be a group warmup before the Social & Competitive divisions, but stretching before you get to Thunderbird Stadium is a really good idea.
  • Start from the ankles and work your way up. If something is really tight, don’t ignore it just because it hurts. Push through it, and allow the muscle to relax. Remember, any discomfort during stretching is always better than being injured.

DURING & AFTER // #YARDWORK2019

• There will be lots of water and Gatorade available during the event, but bring your own bottle to refill as it’s going to be hot. Your sweat is full of salt, which means you need to replenish those salts throughout your activity to avoid cramping. Gatorade has salt in it, but consider bring a spare in your bag just in case.
• Bring sunscreen! It’s going to be hot and sunny.
• Lunch is provided by Big Day BBQ, but just in case, stuff some of these in your bag:
  • Energy bars or protein bars
  • Bananas
  • Potato chips (carbs + salt + fat = great recovery snack)
  • Protein shake (bring the dried powder in a shaker cup, fill with water at the event)
• Stretching #3
  • When you’re done a big workout, usually the last thing you want to do is stretch. Unfortunately, this is the time you really need to be stretching.
  • Grab your team, get a cold beer, and sit down for a quick 5 minute stretch to release those tight muscles. Your body will thank you on Sunday…

That’s it! See you tomorrow at Thunderbird Stadium.

#YARDWORK2019

The post Fueling Up // #YardWork2019 appeared first on Yard Athletics.