Swatting the Bug... and Recovery

By: Paul Dupuis

A comedic and informative tale of health strategies used by CVTC.

Swatting the bug? You may be asking yourself, as you sip champagne and pay your daily visit to your eye candy catalogue otherwise known as CVTC.ca.  So, what is swatting the bug? No, this is not referring to some 60’s dance move you learned at your prom or homecoming. It’s referring to avoiding the common cold or flu otherwise known as the “bug”. Being a high performance cross country skier does come with its perks (the money, fame, and free Yoko gloves), however, in all its glory, there is a shadow glooming beneath the ultimate dreamy lifestyle. Because of the significant amount of training performed by athletes, they experience a lowered immune system, and the common three day cold can linger for weeks on end. Although we do not all have Fred Weaver's good looks (which have been known to scare off all signs of infection), or have access to other remedies such as Martin Schrama’s famed mixture of cobra venom, poison ivy, and tiger blood, we can all do a few little things to help. 

The following is a list of tips and basic tools to prevent ourselves from missing precious training, racing, and fun with the crew:

1. Change into dry clothing after training.
2. Drink LOTS of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Bring your bottle to school or work!
3. WASH YOUR HANDS all the time. Try to avoid rubbing your eyes, picking your nose, and itching your ears.
4. Try to eat and prepare your meals with utensils instead of picking the food up with your hands.
5. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, more if you're a teenager or child.
6. Eat immediately after training. This snack should be rich in carbohydrates and protein. Some examples of snacks are chocolate milk, a banana, a snack bar, or a recovery drink.
7. Try to avoid touching public objects such as hand rails, door knobs, and public tables.
8. Try taking Zinc Tablets prior to entering a dry environment such as an airplane.

Recommended prevention products: Usana, Cold FX

What if the unthinkable happens and you strike up a boxing match with a Cold or Flu???

1. Take it easy!  Missing one or two days of training can get you back on your feet.  If you try to fight the cold while still training hard you could possibly spend anywhere from a week to two months feeling run down.
2. Try taking a cold remedy such as Cold FX.
3. Try sinus rinsing with some salt water. It will keep your nasal passages moist and rinse out bacteria
4. Echinacea.
5. Flush out the free radicals with some warm green tea.
6. Take vitamin C, your body can absorb up to 1000mg an hour.
7. Drink and eat a lot. You need lots of energy to fight the symptoms.

Now onto the next subject of discussion…

Recovery and Downtime

We have all heard Chris Manhard (some groupie that follows the team around) blabber on about the importance of recovery and downtime. In all seriousness, the team has truly taken his words of wisdom to heart, and has totally embraced the idea of letting the body fully recover. The results have been staggering. Not only has the team brought more energy and focus in all workouts, but have also become mind-blowing Pokémon trainers and fantasies footballers. Although some athletes like to spend hours on end looking at themselves in the mirror and combing their luscious locks (Sebastien Dandurand) many actually work their brains with a variety of Post Secondary courses.

Another important aspect of recovery is Nutrition. Most athletes consume recovery drinks post workout and consume a nutrition diet. Many athletes such as Paul Dupuis consume only healthy foods like Kale, Quinoa, spinach, and jelly beans. With the right food, each athlete is able to experience sustained energy and a glowing aura similar to pregnancy.

Enjoy your winter, and see you on the ski trails!!!