August 2008
Life of a Professional Racer Episode 4
While trying to achieve the best of your skills in racing, there will always be high points and low points in everyone’s career. And sometimes when the low points of your races come about, learning to deal with it and learn from, is something that if dealt with properly would be able to help propel the driver to higher levels of motivation to aim for success in the next race.
During the Hungary 2008 GP, Sean Edwards was in that exact situation. Just a few races ago, he has made great progress by reaching the podium several times and also clinching a few wins too. So coming into Hungary, spirits were high and confidence was booming for both driver and team.
The week-end got off to a great start with Sean ending up in 7th during practice as the car and circuit adapted very well. But during qualifying, the team didn’t get the desired set up thus relegating Sean down to 16th for the starting grid.
“We thought we had it dialed in during practice but somehow in qualifying that just wasn’t the case for us so we’ll just try to do our best in the race.” Sean Edwards expressed as he prepared for the race ahead. Learning to look at the positive side of the situation during an unexpected poor performance is critical especially when the event is not over. If Sean Edwards had given up after qualifying and didn’t try to make the best of his situation, he may not even have wanted to start the race on sunday as the chances of podium looks so bleak.
The team, not letting this bad start dampen their spirits worked hard all night to prepare the cars which paid off as Sean got off to a great start in the race making up around 4 places off the line! Sean then made his way past a few cars and that’s when he started attacking Armindo, unfortunately for Sean, Armindo kept blocking him and closing the door. Armindo braked a bit early at turn 12 and Sean tried to take advantage of this by diving to the inside. But that proved to be a race ending mistake. Sean explained later “I tried to avoid contact by going over the curb, but that just launched me into the side of him and put me out of the race with broken suspension.”
Learning from this important lesson, Sean has accepted that sometimes things like this do happen. Drivers will never give way and you’ll be stuck in the situation so every overtaking move must be well calculated before executing it. But instead of blaming Armindo or his own overtaking move, Sean has decided to focus on the race ahead in Valencia as Hungury would be a weekend that the team will like to forget.
“ I can’t wait to go to Valencia to start the race and score a good result. I do admit Hungary wasn’t the best race of my career, but that is not my concern now as learning from my mistakes and making process is what i’m more interested in.” With a never say die attitude, Sean looks ahead to the coming race with excitement. With just 1 more week to go, drivers and teams has been intensively testing and trying on new set ups and prospects look good for Valencia to score another podium.
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Life of a Professional Racer Episode 3
Nutrition and dieting is one component of developing a professional racing driving that many people don’t know about. But the truth is that professional racers spend as much time keeping their body in prime physical condition as they do in the race car itself.
The reason? Because the strain on the body from the high G forces can serious cause a lack of concentration as the body begins to fatigue. And in a race that can mean the difference between high sustained concentration or struggling focus that may lead to a deadly crash.
For Sean Edwards, working out and going on a strict diet routine is absolutely critical. Lets take a look and inside on what goes on during a typical workout day for Sean Edwards:
8:00am
Time to wake up and get the body functioning by going for a morning swim. A swim or any other form of endurance exercise in the morning will force the body to burn up store energy in the body. And since the body has just woken up from a 8 hour starvation period ( Sleep) then in order to find the energy for the exercise, the body will burn fat which would be the goal of the early workout.
Morning exercise options:
1)Swim 30 laps
2)Cycle 10 km
3)Run 5 km
10:00am
By now the body will be exhausted from the morning exercise which means it is time for a hearty breakfast. Nutrition is most critical within 1 hour after the exercise period as it is often referred to as the “Golden hour” where the body will be able to easily absorb all the nutrition that is being provided with.
Morning Breakfast Options:
1)1 bowl of oats with 1 banana and a glass of soy milk
2)French toast with coffee
01:00pm
This would be time for the second meal of the day. This meal will require high levels of carbohydrate and protein to sustain the body for the rest of the day.
Meal Options:
1)Salmon with mash potatoes
2)Chicken breast sandwich
3)Steak with mash potatoes
04:00pm
As the evening approaches, it is time for Sean Edward’s second workout of the day. It will involve resistance training so as to condition the muscles for the G forces that the body will experience.
He will choose from either one of these workout plans:
Workout 1:
- Bench Press ( 4 x 20)
- Shoulder Press (4 x 20)
- Pull ups ( 4 x 10)
- Crunches ( 4 x 25)
- Medicine ball crunches ( 2 x 15)
Workout 2:
- Squat ( 4 x 14)
- Deadlift ( 4 x 15)
- Good Mornings ( 4 x 15)
- Medicine ball crunches ( 4 x 10)
06:00 pm:
For the post workout meal, it is essential that high levels of protein is taken to help in the muscle recovery process:
Meal options:
Protein shake and banana
Egg Sandwich and milk
09:00pm
As the day comes to a close, the body’s metabolism rates starts to slow and before heading off to bed, it is important to load up on protein and carbohydrate so as to allow the body to have the nutrients to sustain the recovery process during rest.
Meal Options:
Bread with peanut butter and milk
Chicken breast sandwich
Tuna Sandwich
That concludes a day of training in the life of a professional racer. Stay tuned for the next episode.
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