An interesting correlation between racing and physical exertion
02-12-2014, 08:42 PM
#31
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I use a Suunto with strap heart rate monitor when I work out. I think I'm in really good shape for 45 years old. I work out 3-4 days a week with a trainer, do quite a bit of cardio and am at about 14% body fat. The thing is though, I still sweat like a mad man and, in the race car, still feel WAY out of shape after 15-16 laps at 10/10's at Sebring. The 12-14 lap PCA races are relatively easy compared to the 45 minute IMSA races. My max heart rate is 184 and I've worn my monitor during an IMSA race and have peaked out at about 174 and been in the top heart rate zone for about 20 of the 45 minutes....
I marvel at the overweight guys that can do the 45 minute IMSA races and get out of the car looking better than I do.... At the same time, I just don't understand it... Someone once told me that due to my low body fat %, I get colder AND hotter than someone with more body fat which insulates from both cold and heat. Is this true?
I marvel at the overweight guys that can do the 45 minute IMSA races and get out of the car looking better than I do.... At the same time, I just don't understand it... Someone once told me that due to my low body fat %, I get colder AND hotter than someone with more body fat which insulates from both cold and heat. Is this true?
02-12-2014, 08:45 PM
#32
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I use a Suunto with strap heart rate monitor when I work out. I think I'm in really good shape for 45 years old. I work out 3-4 days a week with a trainer, do quite a bit of cardio and am at about 15% body fat. The thing is though, I still sweat like a mad man and, in the race car, still feel WAY out of shape after 15-16 laps at 10/10's at Sebring. The 12-14 lap PCA races are relatively easy compared to the 45 minute IMSA races.
I marvel at the overweight guys that can do the 45 minute IMSA races and get out of the car looking better than I do.... At the same time, I just don't understand it... Someone once told me that due to my low body fat %, I get colder AND hotter than someone with more body fat which insulates from both cold and heat. Is this true?
I marvel at the overweight guys that can do the 45 minute IMSA races and get out of the car looking better than I do.... At the same time, I just don't understand it... Someone once told me that due to my low body fat %, I get colder AND hotter than someone with more body fat which insulates from both cold and heat. Is this true?
02-12-2014, 09:06 PM
#33
Drifting
Interesting thread. I'm an avid weight trainer with a strict diet I must admit the conditioning does help to a degree with my driving but nothing replaces seat time and good coaching to bring down the lap times. Especially practicing in race like conditions, heat and high level of intensity.
02-12-2014, 09:10 PM
#34
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Peter good luck. Thanks everyone for the feedback.
02-12-2014, 09:11 PM
#35
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That's good for me, but I plan to add heart rate monitoring so I can get a better measure of exertion.Send your storm up the coast; we'll take care of it for you (oh wait, it's already on its way)
02-12-2014, 09:30 PM
#36
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02-12-2014, 10:22 PM
#38
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I do think physical conditioning does delay the aging process, too! <grin>
02-12-2014, 10:28 PM
#39
Most important thing is to work on your Cardio... weight alone is not necessarily that significant... some of that is hereditary.
I know some chubby guys who can out-work a race-horse, and skinny guys who can't walk up a flight of stairs.
Especially as you get older, light, but every-day exercise is much better than killing yourself in a gym twice a week... even 20-30 minutes gets your metabolism going, and burns calories all day.
Biking is great exercise, but difficult to fit into a normal routine, actually, a brisk walk works... IMHO running is too hard on joints (I'm an ex-runner).
If you can find an hour every other day to go to the gym, weight-lifting is also good, but again, slow, controlled multiple reps at a lighter weight is better... it still builds muscle, but does not stress your connective tissues as much. Muscle mass also burns calories too.
Stretching is also important. It reduces stress on your joints, builds muscle tone, and is something you can do while your watching TV or even reading.
I know some chubby guys who can out-work a race-horse, and skinny guys who can't walk up a flight of stairs.
Especially as you get older, light, but every-day exercise is much better than killing yourself in a gym twice a week... even 20-30 minutes gets your metabolism going, and burns calories all day.
Biking is great exercise, but difficult to fit into a normal routine, actually, a brisk walk works... IMHO running is too hard on joints (I'm an ex-runner).
If you can find an hour every other day to go to the gym, weight-lifting is also good, but again, slow, controlled multiple reps at a lighter weight is better... it still builds muscle, but does not stress your connective tissues as much. Muscle mass also burns calories too.
Stretching is also important. It reduces stress on your joints, builds muscle tone, and is something you can do while your watching TV or even reading.
02-12-2014, 10:34 PM
#40
02-12-2014, 10:58 PM
#41
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Now, as others have indicated, cardio is key, as is resistance over long periods of time, some weights, some isometrics, and a few other things as well.
Am happy to offer guidance in these areas off-line...
Last edited by Veloce Raptor; 02-13-2014 at 08:10 AM. Reason: typos
02-12-2014, 11:35 PM
#42
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I think the band measures arm movement to count for steps. So all of the steering inputs make the band think you're walking. You can try it out by sitting on the couch and moving your arm up and down.
02-12-2014, 11:37 PM
#43
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Ha! A subject near and dear to my heart! Not for the right reasons, either. 
Obese and less fit drivers may (and some do) function at a very high level, but for a very short time.
Cardio and core strength allow better endurance and the ability to hold your body up. Instead of steadying your upper body by your grasp of the wheel, causing tight shoulders, tight neck and huge fatigue, you can relax more easily and "feel" what the car is doing with your fingers, as well as maintain your head upright for better visual gauging.
Most of all, better aerobic and strength fitness will allow your mind to be more relaxed and less distracted by the shifts and forces acting on your body mass. You can drive better and with less mistakes, longer.
I'm in the middle of the newest Haynes Publishing release "Motorsport Fitness Manual" and it is incredible.
I'm fat. Morbidly obese. I'm not proud of it and it has gotten in my way of enjoying my racing so much that I have decided to work on me this year.
I can still do high :52's at Lime Rock, high :21's to mid :22's at Thunderbolt and 2:01's at VIR in a thirty year old, 150 bhp sports racer with 6" wide front, 8" wide rear slicks weighing nearly 1370 lbs with me in it.
But I can only do a few laps... That sucks. But I can fix it.
Obese and less fit drivers may (and some do) function at a very high level, but for a very short time.
Cardio and core strength allow better endurance and the ability to hold your body up. Instead of steadying your upper body by your grasp of the wheel, causing tight shoulders, tight neck and huge fatigue, you can relax more easily and "feel" what the car is doing with your fingers, as well as maintain your head upright for better visual gauging.
Most of all, better aerobic and strength fitness will allow your mind to be more relaxed and less distracted by the shifts and forces acting on your body mass. You can drive better and with less mistakes, longer.
I'm in the middle of the newest Haynes Publishing release "Motorsport Fitness Manual" and it is incredible.
I'm fat. Morbidly obese. I'm not proud of it and it has gotten in my way of enjoying my racing so much that I have decided to work on me this year.
I can still do high :52's at Lime Rock, high :21's to mid :22's at Thunderbolt and 2:01's at VIR in a thirty year old, 150 bhp sports racer with 6" wide front, 8" wide rear slicks weighing nearly 1370 lbs with me in it.
But I can only do a few laps... That sucks. But I can fix it.
Peter,
I'm in a similar situation - vis a vis the weight, not, unfortunately, the stellar lap times.
I got a FitBit for Christmas as well but didn't go online to set it up until two weeks ago. I could spend a couple grand on my car to gain a second a lap or start losing the 50 - 70 lbs of excess body mass I've been lugging around and not just pick up that second but be able to do track events for years longer than if I don't. I've gotten a lot of great advice from reading your posts and from our telephone conversation of a few weeks ago about setting up Race Studio and you critiquing the data from one of my laps at Sebring but your post from earlier today may turn out to be the most beneficial for me in the long run.
I just placed an order for Haynes fitness manual you referenced and intend to use to enhance the fitness program I started on 2/1. It won't be easy. I Thank you for the inspiration to get after it and wish you the best with your program!
02-12-2014, 11:48 PM
#44
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Peter,
I'm in a similar situation - vis a vis the weight, not, unfortunately, the stellar lap times. I got a FitBit for Christmas as well but didn't go online to set it up until two weeks ago. I could spend a couple grand on my car to gain a second a lap or start losing the 50 - 70 lbs of excess body mass I've been lugging around and not just pick up that second but be able to do track events for years longer than if I don't.
I've gotten a lot of great advice from reading your posts and from our telephone conversation of a few weeks ago about setting up Race Studio and you critiquing the data from one of my laps at Sebring but your post from earlier today may turn out to be the most beneficial for me in the long run.
I just placed an order for Haynes fitness manual you referenced and intend to use to enhance the fitness program I started on 2/1. It won't be easy. I Thank you for the inspiration to get after it and wish you the best with your program!
I'm in a similar situation - vis a vis the weight, not, unfortunately, the stellar lap times.
I got a FitBit for Christmas as well but didn't go online to set it up until two weeks ago. I could spend a couple grand on my car to gain a second a lap or start losing the 50 - 70 lbs of excess body mass I've been lugging around and not just pick up that second but be able to do track events for years longer than if I don't. I've gotten a lot of great advice from reading your posts and from our telephone conversation of a few weeks ago about setting up Race Studio and you critiquing the data from one of my laps at Sebring but your post from earlier today may turn out to be the most beneficial for me in the long run.
I just placed an order for Haynes fitness manual you referenced and intend to use to enhance the fitness program I started on 2/1. It won't be easy. I Thank you for the inspiration to get after it and wish you the best with your program!
02-13-2014, 02:06 AM
#45
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"The second day featured 5 thirty minute lapping sessions. My walking didn't amount to much, however, somehow or another what I was doing in the race car registered as steps to the tune of over 16k steps that day. During normal city driving, no steps are registeredn this device."
I have the FitBit Force….when I drive around on an ATV, or when I am at the track, the Force registers well over 10,000 steps…I think the multi angle accelerometers are "fooled" by vibration.
I have the FitBit Force….when I drive around on an ATV, or when I am at the track, the Force registers well over 10,000 steps…I think the multi angle accelerometers are "fooled" by vibration.