In law enforcement and police work we have a lot of tools to get the job done properly. One area where we might be falling down is our selection of the proper fitness equipment for both our sports and job fitness training. Choosing the proper fitness training equipment like running or cycling shoes, clothing, exercise equipment, cycles etc. can make all the difference between success and failure. For policing professionals our fitness tools are just as important as the tools we use on the job.
In his article this week you will see that Scott wore out his favorite cycling shoes so this YouTube video from LiveStrong.com entitled: “How to Choose Proper Cycling Shoes” is for him
Hi everyone, good to be back after a week in North Dakota. No exercise, unless you call reading highway safety reports and eating hotel food all week exercise.
Did you know that it’s hot and humid in south Louisiana? You’d think I would know that too, but it didn’t stop me from overdoing it this weekend. But don’t “I told you so” too quickly. I was inspired by the wonderful folks I’ve rejoined in our Bayou Country Cyclists team, and our MS 150 training ride was an event I had to participate in. Even though I was still under hydrated and over-stuffed with Bismarck’s best cuisine.
Today’s ride brought a little sadness though. Ever get attached to something… inanimate and just dread the day it comes to an end? My very first pair of cycling shoes came apart during the ride. The carbon bottoms, already chipped, scraped and worn from the years and the miles just had one clipped-in-pedal stroke too many today. Would you believe that I’ve had them since 2005? They survived triathlons, cycling centuries, and being left out on the porch during Hurricane Katrina.
Week 22
Here’s to holding each other accountable when the couch looks inviting and the snacks endless.
Weight
– Don’t know. Still not worrying about these numbers.
Exercise
– 2 days of cycling
– 1 lawn cut. Don’t knock it; I started my Strava app and it recorded almost 2 miles walked up and down, back and forth, stopping to talk to the neighbor and back and forth.
– 6 days of hotel food, if that’s a sport.
Eating
– What is it about airline travel and hotel conference centers? Yes, you know how the eating went.
UNO Ring & BP
– BP is still good and resting HR is low 50’s. Saturday and Sunday’s biking bonanzas kept the HR up in the 160 – 170’s, but air condition helps that after the rides.
– The UNO ring slips on and off without hanging up on swollen knuckles or fat fingers.
Monday – Sunday Goals:
– 3 days of cycling.
– 2 yoga sessions.
– 3 morning run sessions
– bring lunches to work or prepared meal at home.
– Gotta really stay consistent with hydration.
How are your efforts going? Don’t just read this and dismiss it. Make a commitment today. You have peer support, CopsAlive.com expertise, and a champion fitness advisor all ready to help.
Our CopsAlive Fitness recommendation is for you to ensure you are using the proper equipment for you sports and fitness activities. The proper equipment can make all the difference between enjoyment and injury. If you are not enjoying your fitness training you are not going to do it, and if you give up on your fitness, you may be giving up on your ability to protect yourself and properly do your law enforcement job.
Training for proper fitness is critical in police work, and having the right equipment to enhance your fitness can be vital. Here are some resources that might help you and you can always find many more by searching on Google. If you have a suggestion to help other cops or a favorite piece of equipment leave a comment in the box below. We’ll review it and if appropriate, approve it and it will stay with this article forever. No sales pitches please, we are trying to get cops to help other cops survive their careers here.
Check out the article in Psychology Today on “The Importance Of Having The Right Gear”
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201008/the-importance-having-the-right-gear
VeryWell.com has some good info on the importance of safety equipment for many sports entitled: “Essential Safety Equipment for Sports” https://www.verywell.com/essential-safety-equipment-for-sports-3120458
FitDay.com has a good article about running shoes entitled “Why It’s Important to Invest in Good Running Shoes” http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/equipment/why-its-important-to-invest-in-good-running-shoes.html
Tell us who or what inspires you to improve your level of fitness, and leave us your comments in the boxes below.
As we have mentioned, in addition to Scott and Kim, we are also following Rae Timme and the CNN Fit Nation promotion. Rae is a 57 year-old mother of three and a 25 year corrections officer who now serves as the warden of a medium custody men’s prison for the Colorado Department of Corrections. Every year CNN selects iReporters to race in a triathlon with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and the Fit Nation team. This year we’re giving six lucky readers a road bike (with all the necessary accessories), a wet suit and a gym membership to help them prepare for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon on September 8.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/fit.nation/
Rae said on the CNN site that she has read all the scary statistics about the mortality rates of people who work in corrections and found that they have the second highest mortality rate of any job; on average, a corrections officer’s 58th birthday will be their last. That motivated her to apply for the CNN Fit Nation team.
Rae continues her training and just ran in the Neon Splash Dash. She has 5 weeks left to prepare for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon. You can follow Rae’s progress on her Twitter feed at @TriHardRae.
Photo Credits:
Photo Courtesy of Scott Silverii
EDITORS NOTE: Our Fitness Monday articles are an ongoing feature as CopsAlive.com follows Police Chief Scott Silverii, Ph.D. on his quest to lose weight and get into better shape, and Lt. Kim Lane as she prepares for the NPC Masters Nationals in Pittsburgh, PA. We are also keeping track of Warden Rae Timme with the Colorado Department of Corrections, a member of the CNN Fit Nation Team, as she prepares for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon on September 8. We all know that fitness is critical in law enforcement, but we don’t always do what we know is right. Over the next couple of months you can follow Scott, a Police Chief; Kim a Patrol Shift Commander; and Rae a Department of Corrections Warden, as they open up their lives to you. We invite you to also participate in any way that you choose to improve, your fitness and, your ability to survive a career in law enforcement. We also encourage you to support Scott and Rae with your comments, emails, Tweets and Facebook entries.
Follow Rae on Twitter at: @TriHardRae
Follow Scott on Twitter at: @ThibodauxChief
Please encourage them and let us know about your efforts at improving your fitness in the comment boxes below
CopsAlive is written to prompt discussions within our profession about the issues of law enforcement career survival. We invite you to share your opinions, ask questions and suggest topics for us in the Comment Box that is at the bottom of this article.
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