Federal judge blocks new California high-capacity magazine ban, but fight looms
vendredi 30 juin 2017
The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale Fantasy Preview
TweetWith the newest season of The Ultimate Fighter winding down, the finale is just around the corner on July 7 from Las Vegas, with a main event featuring lightweight standout Michael Johnson taking on highly-rated newcomer Justin Gaethje. Johnson has faced a laundry list of top opponents over the years but he'll definitely have his hands full when he steps into the Octagon next week. As an undefeated lightweight, Gaethje brings a ton of hype into his debut, not to mention serious knockout power and a tendency to always put on exciting fights. Also on the card, highly-touted lightweight prospe ... Read the Full Article Here
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The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale Fantasy Preview
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5 Great Buys at Manduka's First Store in 313@Somerset
Manduka's newly opened store at #04-11, 313@Somerset sells superb yoga mats... and so much more. By Estelle Low
Hands up if you think Manduka only sells yoga mats. It's perfectly legit, given how prevalent their mats are at yoga studios in Singapore.
If you've been to any decent gym or fitness studio for yoga- or pilates-type of classes, you might have seen Manduka mats laid out on the floor, bearing its distinct frog logo.
Manduka is known for its good-quality yoga mats, which come in many colours, patterns, thicknesses and densities. Photos: Key Power International
Why frog? To represent the grippiness of a frog's legs, I suppose. Frogs have these amazing suction cups under their toes, to help them cling on to wet and smooth surfaces.
Now, I bet we all wished we had those suction cups too, especially when we're sweaty and trying to stay put in a yoga pose like downward dog.
Honestly, Manduka mats are the only ones that make me feel steady like a frog. They keep my palms and feet right where they are, preventing them from sliding during poses.
I personally know many yogis who choose their studios based on the brand of mats used. "Mats not Manduka? Pfft," scoffed one of my yoga-crazy friends who was sussing out classes with me.
So it's good news that Manduka has opened its first concept store at 313@Somerset. It's much easier to get your hands on their exercise mats now.
(Also read: The Best Yoga Classes to Try in Singapore)
Oh wait, there's so much more. Besides the dizzying array of mats that come in various colours, patterns, thicknesses and densities, Manduka has a wide selection of activewear, catered to yoga and studio workouts.
Manduka apparel are made from premium fabrics sourced from environmentally responsible materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and plant fibres.
(Also read: Where to Buy Pretty Activewear in Singapore Besides Lululemon)
They are designed to be ultra-light, stretchy, cooling and moisture-wicking, so sweat marks will quickly disappear.
There are also yoga towels, for those who drip buckets of sweat. So pretty!
Check out our recommended buys in this video.
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5 Great Buys at Manduka's First Store in 313@Somerset5 Ways To Actually Make That Morning Workout Happen
jeudi 29 juin 2017
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Waking up early to exercise can become a reality!
Usama bin Laden's killer turns Twitter wrath to 'awful' VA
TweetThe man who killed Usama bin Laden has turned his attention from storming compounds in Abbottabad, Pakistan to tweet storms like the one he launched against a White House spokesperson on Wednesday, criticizing Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders for her defense of the Veterans Affairs Administration – and even making the fight personal.
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Usama bin Laden's killer turns Twitter wrath to 'awful' VA
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The Ultimate Fighter Redemption: Ep. 11 Preview
TweetDon't miss a brand new Ultimate Fighter episode this Wednesday on FS1 // Following an action-packed end to the quarterfinals last week, The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption moves forward with only two episodes left to go this season. Last week saw James Krause earn a hard-fought decision over Ramsey Nijem in one of the best fights of the season, as the two veterans slugged it out for three rounds before a winner was decided. Jesse Taylor also punched his ticket into the semifinals with a dominant first-round submission against Hayder Hassan to not only put himself into the next ro ... Read the Full Article Here
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The Ultimate Fighter Redemption: Ep. 11 Preview
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Are You Sick And Tired of Working Out? Here’s What to Do
Get out of your fitness rut ASAP. By Estelle Low
Our bodies are smarter than we think.
Each time we perform new exercises, our muscles get shocked. Then, they work hard to recover from the stress in a few days. That’s how we get stronger.
Try doing those same exercises repeatedly over a few months. They will feel progressively easier (yay!), and you'll have fewer muscle aches.
While all that feels good, remember that great things happen outside your comfort zone.
As your body gets used to a certain routine, your workout is becoming less effective, whether you’re trying to lose weight, firm up the core or improve your cardio fitness. With less muscle burn, you torch fewer calories.
Generally, fitness trainers recommend switching up your workout routine every four to six weeks, to avoid boredom and maximise weight loss as well as muscle-building results. (Muscles help you burn calories!)
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s time to take action.
- You can hold a conversation throughout your workout
- You no longer break a sweat like before
- You don’t feel the post-workout muscle soreness
- You start to question why you exercise
- You are thinking about what to eat afterwards
Here are some ways to beat this workout slump. Tap right to view.
Are You Sick And Tired of Working Out? Here’s What to DoDo These Blogilates PII28 Moves to Burn More Fat And Get Toned Abs Fast!
mercredi 28 juin 2017
Get fit with Cassey Ho!
Submitted by dawnchen on Thu, 06/29/2017 - 10:14
Lose weight and tone your whole body with this Blogilates PII28 workout. By Dawn Chen
Sculpt your abs and burn fat with this PIIT28 Waist Shaper Workout that’s been exclusively designed for Shape Singapore. Cassey’s PIIT28 programme combines strengthening pilates moves with intensive cardio elements of normal HIIT (high-intensity interval training) to shape your body in just 28 minutes. This routine consists of seven moves. Perform each move for 45 seconds and rest for 15 seconds in between. Do a total of four rounds (alternating on your left and right side) for a full 28-minute workout. Expect to sweat buckets in no time!
Photos: Frenchescar Lim
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On the Rise: TUF Redemption Finale Edition
TweetJuly is always packed with action inside the Octagon and it’s no different this year, with five events, more than 50 fights and the launch of the “Dana White Tuesday Night Contenders Series” all on the calendar for the next month.With a ton of great fights on tap and numerous stories to track before and after every card, there are bound to be a bunch of athletes that sneak up on people between now and the start of August and I’ll do my best in this column to keep spotlighting the ones you really need to keep an eye on going forward.Here’s a look at the talented ... Read the Full Article Here
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More Singaporeans Doing Runcations Overseas
mardi 27 juin 2017
As running becomes more popular here, more locals are going on 'runcations', combining participation in marathons with holidays abroad. By Bryna Singh
Going for overseas marathons - and taking a holiday at the same time - is becoming a thing. Photo: maridav / 123rf.com
The last few kilometres of a marathon are often a blur of pain and even the final few hundred metres can feel like forever to an exhausted runner.
Running into a stadium filled with some 50,000 spectators cheering one on, though? That might give a person the much-needed push to the finish line.
Such a hero's reception greeted Ms Jeanette Wang, 35, in April this year, when she participated in the Pyongyang Marathon.
Taking place once a year, usually in April, it is a popular race in the marathon holidays market because it combines a visit to closely- guarded North Korea with a run that starts and finishes in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Stadium.
Ms Wang, who is senior digital content manager in an investment firm, says: "For those few hours of that race, I felt like an Olympic athlete."
Everything else on the trip was as much of a highlight, as the tour itinerary saw her visit one of the most popular malls there, have drinks at a local bar and visit the demilitarised zone, or DMZ. "It was a chance to observe this closed nation with my own eyes," she says.
Other than Pyongyang, she has run marathons in cities such as Perth in Australia, Boston and San Francisco in the United States and Queenstown in New Zealand.
She has also done ultra-marathons - anything longer than the traditional marathon length of 42km - in places such as Mount Fuji in Japan and the Alpine village of Verbier in Switzerland.
She is among a growing number of Singaporeans who go on "run-cations" alone, with friends or with family members.
To them, the benefits are obvious: the novelty of running in a different climate or a chance to explore new destinations or experience familiar cities in a different light.
(Also read: My Race Day Survival Kit For My First Marathon)
Travel experts say this trend has picked up steam in the last few years, in tandem with the burgeoning running scene here.
The 2XU Compression Run here has grown from 9,000 participants in 2011 to 30,000 participants in its edition in April this year. Meanwhile, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon has grown from 6,000 runners in its first edition in 2002 to an average of about 50,000 runners a year in recent years.
Mr Geoff Meyer, 48, managing director of Ironman Asia, which organises the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, says running is one of the most popular sports here and he has seen Singaporeans travelling "more and more for run-cations" in recent years.
Travel agency Flight Centre Singapore started promoting marathon holiday packages in 2015.
A spokesman says bookings for these packages have doubled since the trips went on the market.
At least three other local tour companies have started offering marathon holiday packages in recent years too.
Usually, agencies help settle pre-race logistics such as race registration, accommodation and transport. Where they differ is in the marathon destinations and types.
Some offer trips to the six World Marathon Majors - in the cities of New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, London and Tokyo.
Others offer non-standard races that take runners through Unesco World Heritage Sites and across scenic routes, challenging terrains, mountains and deserts. (Also read: This Dog Did a Half Marathon... And Came in Seventh)
Flight Centre, for example, offers packages for the Great Wall Marathon in China, the Angkor Wat Marathon in Cambodia and the Petra Desert Marathon in Jordan.
Local sports tour agency Athletes' Journey organises tours to four out of the six World Marathon Majors, as well as to non-standard marathons, such as the Thunder Dragon Marathon in Bhutan, which allows runners to take in the natural scenery and run past iconic landmarks.
Athletes' Journey co-founder David Tay, 58, says he usually organises sell-out tours to the Marathon Majors held in Tokyo, Berlin and London. The agency will be adding more sports tours next year.
Local travel agency Travel Wander, which was set up last August, started offering "running holidays" this year, which its co-founder Sheryl Lim, 40, says are "soft adventures".
Besides the usual marathons, her company also takes people to more exotic locations, including packages to the Athens Classic Marathon in Greece, the Sun Moon Lake Marathon in Taiwan and the DaNang International Marathon in Vietnam.
Internationally, various governments are tapping marathons to boost tourism, says Ms Alicia Seah, 53, travel agency Dynasty Travel's director of marketing communications.
Since 2014, Dynasty Travel has been the exclusive travel agent for the Korea Tourism Organisation to promote four of South Korea's marathons - held in Seoul, Gyeongju, Chuncheon and Jeju.
Since last year, the agency has also been working with the Macao Government Tourism Office to organise marathon packages.
This year, Dynasty Travel also launched a package to coincide with the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in Australia.
Ms Seah says that friends and family members of runners are starting to tag along for such trips for "family bonding and friendship building".
Public servant Yim Pui Fun, 57, went on one of Dynasty Travel's marathon holiday packages to South Korea with three female friends last year. She ran the full course of the Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon, while her three friends did the 5km course.
Although this was her 36th marathon, it was the first time she was doing it as part of a holiday package.
"It was so convenient. Dynasty Travel did all the arrangements for me. I didn't have to do anything except turn up," she says.
"It was also very exciting that my friends took part. They usually say no when I encourage them to join. They prefer to just wait at the finish line to cheer for me and then we head off to shop and eat together."
Here are five marathon holiday destinations to consider.
(Also read: How to Run a Marathon Safely)
ATHENS CLASSIC MARATHON IN GREECE
This marathon is steeped in history because it is based on the ancient tale of a military courier's fateful run to Athens, the capital of Greece. According to legend, the messenger, Pheidippides, ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490BC to announce the news that the Greeks had defeated the Persian invaders. He then collapsed and died. This marathon's course covers the same ground that he ran and ends in Athens' Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games was held in 1896.
After the marathon, runners can stay in the capital for sightseeing or treat themselves to a Greek island getaway.
Local tour agency Travel Wander has packages to this marathon.
PETRA DESERT MARATHON IN JORDAN
Petra Desert marathon in Jordan. PHOTO: FLIGHT CENTRE
Set in the ancient city of Petra, a Unesco World Heritage Site, this marathon offers stunning views across a desert landscape.
Runners will be able to see mountainside carvings, incredible rock formations, caves and historic tombs.
At one point, the route goes uphill to a mountain ridge for a 5km stretch. At the height of this ascent, runners will get a view of the race route.
After the marathon, runners can extend their trip to explore Jordan, do a Bible land tour or take a dip in the Dead Sea.
Tour agency Flight Centre Singapore offers packages to this marathon.
GREAT WALL MARATHON IN CHINA
Great Wall marathon in China. PHOTO: FLIGHT CENTRE
Rough paths, sloping trails and 5,000 gruelling steps up and down the Great Wall make this race one of the world's most challenging. Adding to the difficulty are uneven steps. Some are tiny and some are so high, you have to jump.
Thankfully, there are less arduous stretches that pass through villages, fields and farmland.
The run begins and ends in Tianjin province, at the Yin and Yang Square at the fortress at the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall.
Tour agency Flight Centre Singapore offers packages to this marathon.
THUNDER DRAGON MARATHON IN BHUTAN
The Thunder Dragon Marathon in Bhutan takes runners along a scenic route and past iconic landmarks. PHOTO: THUNDER DRAGON MARATHON
Participating in this marathon is the perfect way to enter the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and rub shoulders with the happiest people on earth.
The high-altitude route takes in the beautiful Paro Valley and iconic landmarks such as the spectacular Tiger's Nest monastery perched on a cliff edge.
The race begins and ends at Zhiwa Ling, a luxury hotel in Bhutan.
After the race, runners can continue with their guided tours to soak in the country's unspoilt beauty. Local sports tour agency Athletes' Journey organises packages to this marathon.
VICTORIA FALLS MARATHON IN ZIMBABWE
Victoria Falls marathon in Zimbabwe. PHOTO: VICTORIA FALLS MARATHON
Combining breathtaking scenery with adventure, this route winds along the mighty Zambezi river, across bridges with spectacular views of Victoria Falls, and goes into Zambezi National Park, where runners may be able to see wildlife such as zebras and elephants. Post marathon, runners can explore Victoria Falls, which is known as the adventure centre of Africa. Travel packages can include rafting, game viewing, safaris and bungee jumping.
For details, go to http://ift.tt/1RUw173.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on June 25, 2017, with the headline 'Running to a holiday'.
Also read:
More Singaporeans Doing Runcations Overseas
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