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Athelete’s Need Sleep For Top Performance

August 7, 2011 Marine
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I remember when my mother begged me to go to sleep. “You need your 8 hours,” she’d exclaim, as I, a little boy, would fight.

What I didn’t realize at the time is that sleep is hugely important for a person’s functioning, especially an athlete. Just in case you are like I was and need some cajoling, here are a few reasons why sleep is one of the most important parts of an athlete’s life:

1. Sleep speeds up the recovery process

Studies have shown that lack of sleep can increase the bodies stress hormone and decrease the human growth hormone (HGH). Your anterior pituitary gland naturally releases HGH and is closely involved with the rebuilding of broken down muscle tissue due to training.

Without a good amount of sleep each night, your body will recover slower, limiting your growth in the weight room and on the field. Whether you are training for the high bar or looking to improve vertical jump, sleep is paramount.

2. Sleep replenishes glycogen

Glucose and glycogen are the body’s primary source of energy for most sports. Deprivation of sleep (less than 4-6 hours a night) can cause the body to replenish lost glycogen stores less efficiently.

The body’s inability to replenish these stores will result in a decrease in muscular efficiency and regeneration.

This substantial decrease in bodily performance can significantly increase the athletes’ chance for injury and decrease their potential gain.

So how much sleep should an athlete get?

The key here is consistency. It is very important, for both your safety and your success, to establish a schedule that allows you to receive 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day of the week.

I firmly believe that a mature athlete that is committed to his/her safety and success will strive to get 8-10 hours of sleep per night.

Benefits of adequate amounts of sleep

  • Improved mood during training and competitions
  • Better muscle quality and health
  • Increased muscle efficiency
  • Improved reaction time and sustained attention
  • Increased cardiovascular performance
  • Decreased chance of injuries

Are Your Marine Batteries Thirsty?

July 12, 2011 Marine
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In general, doctors recommend following the 8×8 rule: you should drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water each day! After all, water is your body’s main chemical component, and it makes up approximately 60% of your body weight. In other words, it is very important to replenish your body with water throughout the day.

The same can be said about marine batteries, especially in the summer heat!

For marine batteries, summer heat is killer. Whether you’re talking about sun stroke, heat exhaustion or your car’s performance, the heat can “dehydrate” your battery, starter, and alternator.

Heat is the primary cause of flooded lead acid battery failure. Similar to one’s body, the high summer temperatures cause the water in the battery’s electrolyte to evaporate, causing rapid corrosion to the positive plate grids.

In addition, since marine batteries are primarily used in the summer months, this bit of information could prove valuable to you: give your marine batteries plenty to drink. Here’s how:

  • Wear gloves and eye protection.
  • Remove the cap.
  • Check the water level in your battery. If you can you see the lead plates inside your battery, the water is low.
  • Check the electrolytes in the battery with a hydrometer, if you have one.
  • Add distilled water to the car battery to approximately ¼” over the top of the plates.
  • Put the cap back on.
  • Make sure your cables and connections are snug, but not tight.

If you enjoy starting your jet ski or boat with ease, please make sure your marine battery has enough to drink. If not, it will become dehydrated and it won’t be pretty… or cheap!