Peak Athletic Performance

How do we define peak athletic performance? I would say that the definition varies depending on who you ask. Some may say it is a physical peak that can be calculated and measured scientifically, while others may think it is a more abstract concept. I suppose the exact definition depends on the individual. Perhaps it is more of a sense of personal accomplishment and wellbeing, and can only be ascertained or measured by the individual.

A good example of this would be the phenomenon known as the "Runner's high" which is a little more complex than just the proverbial "second wind" where a sudden burst of energy comes after long intervals of exhaustion.

To me, Peak Athletic Performance is a combination of many things, mainly diet, exercise, and rest. As far as me personally, I think my peak would have been about 3 years ago when I was working out religiously 5 days a week, dieting hardcore, and wrestling on the weekends. My absolute peak would be when I tried out for WWE and TNA, as I was in absolutely impecable athletic condition, not just in terms of muscle and body mass(4% body fat) but also in terms of cardiovascular conditioning. These days I am still in pretty good shape, I have trouble making time to get to the gym sometimes, but I MAKE time. There is no excuse. Next month I am getting back into wrestling again, so I need to be in top shape.

The importance of a good night's rest

I can't remember the last time I got a nap like that. After a brutal, virtually sleepless 5-day stint at work, culminating with a 12-hour shift on labor day, I basically ran out of gas. When I came home Tuesday night, I basically crashed, and slept almost continuously until the same time Wednesday. If I slept two hours longer I think it would have been legally declared as a coma.

I've gone on less sleep before, having gone to school during the day and worked overnights simultaneously. I remember 36-hour days with no sleep. Last semester there were days I would have to do work and school in the same day, surviving on only 2 hours sleep, and still manage to go to the gym in between. At times I would make up the difference by drinking double shots of coffee, only in extreme cases. I can't stand the taste of the stuff, having never drank coffee before in my life. That trend did not last long.

Anyway, I never before realized the dangers of going on less sleep. There's always the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel, especially for those who have a long drive such as myself. My drive from school to home is a little more than an hour. I have to drive from Westfield, MA to Albany, NY. I was behind the wheel, about halfway home, and I had started to drift off, and had trouble focusing on my driving. I came to the conclusion that I should pull off to a rest stop and catch a nap, for my own safety. This was the first time I had ever needed to do this in my life.

Needless to say I learned the value of a full night's rest. Proper sleep management is as important as any other time management, probably more important.

.