PLUS: the reason all chicken shop logos look the same |
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| | GYMS FOR YOUR BUCKET LIST | | Holidaying in Britain this year? Sneak one of this lot into the itinerary | |
| Yes, it's run by a real ex-commando (strength coach Rob Blair) and yes, for aspiring strength athletes the Temple is a near-religious experience. With specialists in calisthenics, strongman, powerlifting and Girevoy (Russia's national sport, which involves high-rep kettlebell lifting) on staff, you'd be hard-pushed to find a bit of strength kit that's not packed into its three railway arches – but highlights you're unlikely to see elsewhere include a Conan's Wheel, a 512kg tractor tyre… and a full-sized ship's anchor.
Best bit of kit "One thing you won't see anywhere else is Thor's Hammer, an industrial crane scale designed to test your strength at the very top end of a deadlift," says Blair. "So far, I'm happy to say, I hold the record at 612kg." bestronger.co.uk |
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| | THE NINJA TRAINING GROUND |
Unsurprisingly, our American brethren have been quick to embrace the concept of training for Ninja Warrior, constructing entire replicas of the course in giant warehouses and tracts of woodland. In the UK, your options are a bit more limited – but True Function, owned by Ninja Warrior UK competitor Dion Trigg, squeezes a dozen of the show's toughest obstacles into a space the size of a small bungalow. And yes, it does Ninja Training classes.
Best bit of kit Most of the course's tough bits are covered – Sextuple Steps, Plank Bridge and Jumping Spider most definitely included – but the gym's piece de resistance is the Salmon Ladder. diontrigg.com |
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| | For the man used to battling a swathe of bench-and-curl bros for his gym's solitary squat rack, Spartan Performance is nirvana: not only does it have four of the little beauties, all backing on to Olympic platforms, but it's also got a full-length artificial-turf running track (for prowler sprints) and an array of kit that would shame most NFL training facilities. Finally, it's run by World's Natural Strongest Man competitor Jack Lovett, who is the nicest giant strength athlete you will ever meet. Well worth the drop-in fee.
Best bit of kit "I love a quality power rack, but my current favourite – used extensively in our programmes – is the Rogue Yoke," says Lovett. "It's a fantastic squat stand that can also be used pressing, prowler pushes or pulls, overhead carries and my favourite, Zercher carries." spartanperformance.co.uk |
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KIMMY SCHMIDT IS TOUGHER THAN YOU | | …AND HERE'S HOW TO BE MORE LIKE HER | |
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, season two of which hits Netflix today, is that rarest of televisual beasts: the show so good that it defies binge-watching. Almost every episode of season one is a must-savour banger, and there's real heart behind the Tina-Fey-scripted hilarity. Kimmy, who's survived 15 years' imprisonment in an underground bunker, is one of the most upbeat, resolute, steely characters on TV. So what can you learn from her?
"She's incredibly resilient," says psychologist Sean Patrick. "But she's also amazingly upbeat. One way to bring some of that into your own life is to do this thought experiment: what would you still be enthused by without your last ten years of life experience?" Write out a list, then try those things out. Note: "Candy for dinner!" is only semi-OK.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season One is out on DVD now, courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK) |
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| | YOUR NEW MARATHON SHOES | | BECAUSE YOU'LL DEFINITELY GET THAT LONDON PLACE NEXT YEAR | |
| | Yes, it's a bit late to think about changing your marathon trainers for race day: even if you don't believe in breaking new shoes in, you definitely shouldn't be making any untested kit changes with just over a week to go. But if you're looking to invest for next year, or you're suffused with love for all things London Marathon, or you want trainers that – let's be honest – look like something Ming The Merciless would wear, allow us to present the Saucony Guide 9. Built with 42Ks in mind, its big tech innovations are a FlexFilm upper (for breathability) and Saucony's Everrun tech in the midsole (for cushioning). It's a touch stiffer and heavier than much of the current crop of high-mileage shoes – but that's no bad thing, considering the extra stability you get in return. Also, come on, nobody's going to dare pass you on your run to work. "What do you mean, Flash Gordon approaching?" | |
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| | ROCKHOOOOOLD! | | IS ANYONE MORE MANLY? | | Since we interviewed him for the June issue of Men's Fitness – after correctly predicting his current UFC title run back in 2014 – Luke Rockhold has signed on for a rematch with former champ Chris Weidman for all the marbles on 4th June. What do we think will happen? Victory by smashing, as the middleweight continues to improve. "I do my homework on body mechanics," he says. "I analyse how people move, then I film myself and watch how I move. Why am I not like that guy? What do I need to be doing? It's basic understanding, but you have to be able to see these things." Meanwhile, you're still using your phone camera to film your dog sleeping. You're both winners! | |
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5 THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEK | |
1. The best way to learn double-unders? Clapping like a penguin.
2. British people miss out on a night's worth of sleep each week.
3. Ever wondered why most fried-chicken shopfront logos look similar? Because many were designed by one man, who rejoices in the 70s-funkster name Morris Cassanova (AKA Mr Chicken). You can read about him in Chicken: Low Art, High Calorie.
4. A 45-YEAR study into butter has found it's no worse for you than "healthy" spreads.
5. 1.5kg of whale vomit – yours for £50,000. |
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