The Stress-Adaptation Principle The relationship between stress and tissue health follows a well-established principle: some stress is essential for adaptation, too much causes damage, and too little leads to atrophy. This concept, often called the “Goldilocks zone” of mechanical loading, underpins most rehabilitation approaches. When a tendon is injured, the standard protocol typically begins withContinue reading “Impact Training Theory: A Different Axis of Stress for Tendon Healing”
Category Archives: Sports & fitness
This adventure was not a vacation
; it was a trial of my will… Motocross in Iceland is not easy. We rode six hours a day across unforgiving terrain. It rained three out of four days. The cold, an average of maybe 5 °C, was paired with winds so violent we sometimes feared being blown off our motorcycles. I had neverContinue reading “This adventure was not a vacation”
On mental health in extreme sports and what it means to all of us
In the highs of the extremes, there is a profound fragility. The higher one goes, the harder one could crash. Mental health in extreme sports is a relevant subject to reflect upon and discuss, not just for the athletes but for all of us. Our heroes, those we admire, reflect our values. I am gratefulContinue reading “On mental health in extreme sports and what it means to all of us”
The stories we tell ourselves… and the petty pleasure derived from the suffering of others.
This morning, I am touched by this article on the story of Mrs. Jeanson. https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/cyclisme/2022-04-27/genevieve-jeanson/la-meilleure-chose-qui-me-soit-arrivee.php I remember … the child prodigy of Quebec cycling who fell in 2005 from a doping scandal. Like the majority of Quebecers, I probably judged without knowing. I am ashamed this morning to have participated in this collective judgment. IContinue reading “The stories we tell ourselves… and the petty pleasure derived from the suffering of others.”
The ebike, a tool for sustainable flow states
« Flow is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity » – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi I have experienced flow many times, in my work and in a few sports in which I have a good enoughContinue reading “The ebike, a tool for sustainable flow states”
Where passion is born…
At the intersection of competence and challenge, where a sense of mastery slowly emerges, my son found flow, and he felt this deep pleasure that comes with the feeling of control as one descends a mountain on two wheels. He asked for more, but we already had spent 3 hours on our bikes on theContinue reading “Where passion is born…”
The nigh rider…
The sun has gone down. The moon hides behind the clouds. The forest is quiet. Fireflies create a surreal atmosphere. A silent light quietly travels the forest. I recently fell in love with night riding. Alone with my bike, pedalling the night away, inspiring music in my ears, this solitude is comfortable. I am aContinue reading “The nigh rider…”
Train like a champion… take it easy and enjoy!
There is an epidemic of overtraining out there, it is pushed by the popular idea “no pain, no gain”. The reality is that champions train at lower intensity 8 out of 10 times. Watch this very TED talk.
Men will always be boys…
It reassures me that even in the rain, mud or water, I am still a kid. You don’t stop playing because you’re old, you become old when you stop playing.
Chelsea-Wakefield Train Trail…
Superb bike ride of about 50 km. The snack in the sun reminds us how much the context influences the taste. The little cheddar cheese tastes so good in the sun on the river bank!
The False Electric-Assist Bike Debate….
There is an intense and emotional debate raging on bike forums around the world… It concerns electrical-assist bicycles. On one side, we have people who claim that electric-assist bikes are driven by bad guys who destroy the environment. On the other, we have users who, seduced by the technology, defend their freedom of expression. AtContinue reading “The False Electric-Assist Bike Debate….”
You want an E-bike?
Here are 5 relevant questions you should ask yourself: 1- What is my budget? Yes, E-bikes are expensive but wait and think for one minute. Entry cost to cycling might be high but remind yourselves that there are almost no recurring cost, the bike season last 365 days and if you spread the cost ofContinue reading “You want an E-bike?”
E-Bike for everyone… from beginners to experts
If you have followed me long enough, you know I am passionate about everything related to mountain bikes… I’ve been waiting a long time to write about ebikes, I wanted to be ready… but today, as I came home after another epic ride in the woods, I realized that, in 4 weeks, I rode moreContinue reading “E-Bike for everyone… from beginners to experts”
Fatbike basics 101…
I just came back from a superb long bike ride in the Gatineau park with a friend. I notice the popularity of fat bikes is just exploding and it is easy to understand why… Cross country skiing on 1,5 cm of snow sucks. Downhill skiing is complicated with all the safety rules. What’s left: fatbikeContinue reading “Fatbike basics 101…”
To the fitness / endurance enthusiasts …
I was one of you. I ran marathon. I did long distance everything, running, rowing, hiking. I pushed myself in the gym and out. But in the last few years, I slowed down. Why? I see an epidemic of injuries around me, in people my age and dy objective is to live long and well,Continue reading “To the fitness / endurance enthusiasts …”
The fine balance…
For all the time spent in my mind, thinking… I spend as much in my body, moving. The bodymind balance maintained, Never achieved, A work in progress… #trainingathome
Home training… the bodyweight squat progression.
Simply because moving my body every day is how I stay healthy physically and mentally And because I believe that knowing how to move with fine balance and coordination is much more important for health than lifting heavy weights and being strong. From super easy to super hard with minimal equipment. Here is the progression:Continue reading “Home training… the bodyweight squat progression.”
Worth one thousand words…
Our Moab pilgrimage…
If you are a serious mountain biker, you know about Moab… This small village lost in the mountain of Utah is considered the mecca of mountain biking. Well known for it’s “slick rock” and it’s world-famous “Porcupine rim” trail. 2019 being a year of some dreams made true… Last Saturday, we started our pilgrimage, leavingContinue reading “Our Moab pilgrimage…”
To sample or to specialize….
Science shows that it is useless to push our children and pre-teens into sports.They won’t go any further because they started playing sports at the age of 3 and competing at the age of 9.
A decade of brazilian jiu jitsu…
The first time i put a gi on was october 31st 2007. It was in small gym on 4265 Papineau street in Montreal. My first coach was Nobuya Shimamoto, a brown belt instructor. I had done karate for 5 years in my teenage years. Putting a gi on again at 32 years old was likeContinue reading “A decade of brazilian jiu jitsu…”
Welcoming pain in our lives…
Today i went biking with my friends. I am very lucky. I have friends i ski with. Friends i bike with. Friends i train with. And don’t worry, i also have friends i am just friends with. So today i hung out with the bike bunch of friends. Fortunately for me, they are all betterContinue reading “Welcoming pain in our lives…”
Calcio storico…
is probably the most violent team sport in the world.It is a traditional game from Florence, Italy, that has been around for many centuries, celebrated and respected. The game is still played by men who train year round for the privilege to play two maybe three games. Many of them will not walk out ofContinue reading “Calcio storico…”
Fatbike basics 101…
I just came back from a superb long bike ride in the Gatineau park with a friend. I notice the popularity of fat bikes is just exploding and it is easy to understand why… Cross country skiing on 1,5 cm of snow sucks. Downhill skiing is complicated with all the safety rules. What’s left: fatbikeContinue reading “Fatbike basics 101…”
The great canadian bungee…
Again, let’s visit the discomfort zone. This second time, i am much calmer than 10 years ago. It is always an intense feeling to look down 200 feet and just throw yourself down, feel the acceleration, see the ground coming then feeling the strength of the elastic band pull you up. Why bungee jumping? ThroughContinue reading “The great canadian bungee…”
Martin Pham Dinh 