Victoria happy she swapped saddles (and so is her man)
A NEW ‘smart’ insole has been designed to help runners improve their technique by analysing how the foot hits and leaves the ground, and where the runner puts his or her bodyweight.
The ARION, invented by Dutch startup Ato Gear, links up to a smartphone app which gives the user exact data on weight, in-step performance and running technique to help them adapt where necessary in order to boost performance and reduce risk of injury.
The 2mm-thick insole weighs just 20g and is designed to be slipped under existing insoles in the running shoes, and collects data as the wearer runs. Arion soles, unveiled at the CES technology show in Las Vegas in January, will be available for pre-order in April for £120. COGNITIVE decline happens twice as fast in people who retire compared to those who remain in work later in life, according to a new study.
Loss of cognitive skills – resulting in forgetfulness and struggling to focus and process new information – are early signs of dementia, and also a natural part of ageing. North American researchers followed more than 18,500 men and women over 12 months, half of whom retired during the study period. Results showed that the yearly decline was more than twice as fast in those who retired, even when overall health and wealth was taken into account.
The researchers from McGill University in Canada, and centres in the US, reported their findings in Social Science & Medicine and concluded that the likely cause was that retirees had left jobs that required regular use of cognitive skills. VICTORIA PENDLETON has told how she lost more than a stone in muscle when she quit cycling for horse racing – but there is one area where she says she gained some mass, and her husband is very happy about it. The 36-year-old, left, who retired from competitive track cycling after winning gold and silver in the 2012 London Olympics, says: ‘One of the benefits of horse racing over cycling is that it makes your bum nice and peachy. ‘Cycling isn’t great for that as the focus is on your thighs, but when you are on a horse you are in a squat and using your glutes and thighs, plus you are leaning forward and using your arms. I have biceps for the first time in my life!’ She adds: ‘People underestimate the amount of training a jockey has to do. They think you just get on a horse and ride, but I’m working out for three hours a day now that I’m riding horses and it’s just as strenuous as cycling. ‘Honestly, if you want to get fit fast, then you should try horse riding. ‘There’s less impact on the body than running but it gives you great core fitness and uses all the muscles that women want to be toned. ‘And if you train for three hours a day, you can eat whatever you want without worrying about it. ‘I love my body as a result of horse racing. My husband is happy too,’ she says with a smile.