Running a marathon or a race? 4 mistakes to avoid beforehand

Mistake number 1
EATING TOO MUCH FIBRE
Two to three days before a race, cut back on bran and other high fibre foods and veggies.
Too much fibre can upset digestion and make you feel bloated.
Munch on a banana or if you have the patience, blend a low -fibre smoothie before the race instead.
Mistake number 2
DRINKING ENERGY DRINKS
I'm not a big fan of energy drinks. They are usually loaded with too much sugar in the form of glucose, giving a sugar-rush which we mistake for a genuine energy rush. Well, it is an energy rush only an hour or two later, it will drop to lower than normal and you'll feel fatigued.
Some experts may advise you to drink energy drinks with lower glucose levels. But I think it's best to munch on that banana for slower energy release, and sip water throughout to stay hydrated. Don't gulp water as this can make you feel bloated and sluggish. Not ideal for running.
Mistake number 3
EATING A LOW-CARB DIET
If you do not have enough glycogen energy stores in your muscles, you will feel your energy run out before you finish running your race.
Eat a pasta meal the night before and a light pre-race breakfast (how about that low-fibre smoothis?) to stabilise your blood sugar levels.
Mistake number 4
INDULGING IN LEG MASSAGES
Massages are great... for relaxing! Before a race, massaging may only relax your muscles too much causing you to underperform and miss that 3 hour target for that 50km marathon. Jog for five minutes, stretch gently before the race. And indulge all you want in leg massages after the race as you bask in the glow of your achievement.

Boxing federation wants female boxers to wear skirts?

The Amateur Boxing Federation wants women to wear skirts in the ring.
Their reason: To make it easier to distinguish women from men.
My first thought is that it is ridiculous! Women are completely different build than men.
But then again, before pointing a fingers, I noticed the other three pointing back at me.
Aren't I also championing for changes in sporting dress codes? For hijab and covered legs and arms in sports?
It gives me some sense of perspective on what others may think of my purpose.
But if I had to choose from amongst a dress code that distinguishes women from men, a dresscode that made the sport more attractive to male spectators (like the badminton skirt code) and a dresscode that encourages and protects women's modesty: (whew!) I'd choose modesty. Anyday. It just has more substance.

Interview with Kulsoom Abdullah

Earlier this week I interviewed friniggi sponsored weightlifter, Kulsoom abdullah.
She chatted to us about the upcoming world championships in Paris, next month.
We also discussed issues affecting Muslimah athletes today and many more topics.
it's a 20 minute interview.
PLease allow time to download.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqP-fLSR7LM
Hope you enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqP-fLSR7LM

short sports hijab1

I posted a new photo to KulsoomAbdullahPakistankit.

short friniggi sports hijab1.jpg

Kulsoom's kit for weightlifting championships

Front of Kulsoom's Kit

Kulsoom represented Pakistan in the weightlifting championships 

Full view from the front

First, please excuse the poor image quality. I took this with my PC camera - not the most advanced equipment, but I have to make do.

This is the reason for my lack of blog posts, and my silence on social networking sites.
Past few weeks I've been developing a singlet, customised singlet, for Kulsoom. She has been registered to compete for Pakistan in the weightlifting championships next month in Paris. We were not sure if anyone or any organisation was going to send her a kit, so at the last minute we decided to do something to highlight the fact that a muslim sportswoman would be competing for Pakistan in the weightlifting championships. Certainly a remarkable feat!

It was a challenge as it had certain modest specifications but had to look like a singlet, which is usually tight fitting.
Kulsoom said she may not wear the singlet this time round, because due to distance (Africa and America) we could not have proper fittings.
Instead we did all we could with videos, pictures and emails.
And also the colour is a little too light to represent Pakistan national colours which is more of a darker green and white.
Still it is a W-I-P as we continue to develop it according to Kulsoom's needs so that it will truly be performance sportswear.

However, she has confirmed (at least for now ) that both her and her coach will wear the warm up suits friniggi is sponsoring them. AS I mentioned in a previous post, Kulsoom is under the friniggi 12th Girl sponsorship where I sponsor as much of her kit as possible. For now this is sports hijab, customised singlet, warm up suits.

I hope that Kulsoom goes far in her endeavours both on and off the weightlifting arena.