F1 and Karting: Fitness and Health in motorsport

Karting gets you fit? Nope, other way round! you should be fit for karting. Actually allow me to amend that statement as it implies only fit people can race, that is not true, ill be proof of that, ill change my statement to Karting should encourage you to become fit.

I can be proof of this as only until very recently i cared very little about what went down my gullet, i was unhealthy on a whole other level, but now i follow a strict(ish) diet and exercise programme (which i shall share in my next post next week) and in 2 weeks have lost 6kgs.

So why does this benefit you in a sport where all you do is sit down and push some pedals? becouse karting is much more than that (motorsport in general infact), driving is very much like golf, seems pointless to viewers but those who participate hunger for perfection, the perfect corner, then lap, then race, then technique i could go on. And karting is hard, you may think you can get away with not caring about your health an perhaps you can... for 1 lap!! (Click read more for full Post)

Being healthy pays off when your putting in hot laps in the final stages of a race, when you're chasing the kart infront and the drivers performance is dropping (becouse hes a lazy bugger) yet becouse your that bit healthier you keep pumping in the laps... you see where im going with this?

If not allow me to be more specific, or should i say Mr Dove to be specific, you see its important to be smooth to be quick, and Mr Terence Dove (The BOWSS of EvenFlow) teaches this in a article on his website. He too mentions fitness and has a plan of his own (a good one too, different to mine but i would also recomend it) in the following post
http://evenflow.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73:the-hidden-secret-behind-driving-smooth-&catid=35:kart-driving-articles&Itemid=59
I must say a huge thank you to this man, his articles have taught me alot and it might benefit you to have a look at his entire website.

It is a common lie that F1 or Motorsport drivers/athletes are unfit. When your driving a machine that is on the edge of the laws of physics (Formula 1 cars) do you think your heart is relaxed? i dont see footballers with a heart rate of 190bpm for 2 and a half hours ( thats a shot at football fanboys, i enjoy watching football, i just cant stand the fanboys), le mans drivers have to do this for up to 4 hour stints. Now i wont open up the debate of who is fitter between F1 drivers and footballers becouse they are about the same in terms of fitness.

Now i hope you stick around for the diet and fitness plan, i hope even more that this has encouraged you to follow it and improve your game.
Be Well... and healthy!!!! ----------------------- Mustafa S. Wandi