This summer at the Izu velodrome, the track cycling events of the Tokyo Olympic Games will take place. On the schedule are the sprint and endurance events, both solo and team, and the return of Madison, with a women’s event for the first time. While waiting to follow the performances of the greatest European and world cyclists, subscribe to their Instagram accounts and train on your home bike to feel the same sensations as they do!

During the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, 7 rowing events for both men and women will take place on a course that has been built for the occasion; the Sea Forest Waterway. The rowing regatta includes races contested by 6 boats over 2,000 metres. Germany, New Zealand and Great Britain often win this Olympic discipline. Train on a rowing machine for 4 weeks to improve your performance.

Many great champions have adopted sports rituals that they reproduce during matches or competitions. Carried out before, during or after the event, these sometimes secret gestures help to manage stress, to focus, to face the fear of the unknown and to gain self-confidence and allow athletes to establish themselves as winners.

David Epstein’s best-selling book “The Sports Gene: Inside The Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance” looks at the role of genetics in the predisposition for performance that some athletes seem to have. By differentiating between the innate and the acquired, the author challenges the theory of the 10,000 hours of training required to become an accomplished athlete in a discipline. However fascinating this dive into the heart of DNA is, it remains that each athlete is master of their own destiny and can advance as they wish towards their objectives!

Postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics include 49 athletics events, including a new event; the mixed 4 x 400-metre relay. Athletics is the most important and well-represented discipline in the Summer Olympics and the one-year delay means that new European athletes will be in the spotlight.

In February, many seasonal activities can be chosen to liven up your sporting holiday: Kite-surfing or sand yachting if you are going to the seaside, snow-shoeing, inland hiking, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding or free-riding in the mountains. Choose an out-of-the-way destination, go outside of the school holidays and consider following a physical preparation programme to fully enjoy your winter stay.

To choose which marathon to participate in abroad, discover the must-see running courses of the world: Join in at New York for a legendary urban route, run under the midnight sun in the Arctic or opt for a complete change of scenery with the Bagan Temple Marathon in Myanmar. To fully prepare for your marathon, plan ahead so you register on time and follow the iFit® programs to train as if you were really there!

If you are an experienced runner, you can be ready for your first marathon by following a 6-month training plan. Select an event corresponding to your level, equip yourself with suitable equipment, then create your personalised programme combining endurance running and other types of exercise. To give yourself the best chance of success, you can alternate outdoor running and treadmill training by taking advantage of iFit® virtual coaching solutions.

To succeed in your first 10km race, prepare 4 to 8 weeks in advance. Schedule 3 sessions per week, including split workout sessions to progress more quickly. You can optimise your race preparation by training at home on a high-performance treadmill and taking advantage of iFit® virtual coaching solutions.

The Cross of Figaro NordicTrack is a unique sporting event and the starting point of the Telethon week. On 28th and 29th November 2020 at the Domaine de Saint-Cloud Park, take part in a 5, 10, 15 or 20 km race and take up the NordicTrack Don challenge: for each additional kilometre covered compared to the 2019 edition, NordicTrack will donate to Telethon. Whether you are a beginner or advanced runner, get involved to support the research on rare diseases and make the race a success thanks to the tips and advice of NordicTrack!

A 15 or 20 km race cannot be improvised: preparation should start about 2 months in advance. Set up a training schedule combining cardio and muscle strengthening, with endurance and split sessions. Take advantage of the preparation period to adopt a balanced diet and a good night’s sleep. Thanks to sports coaching, train in the best conditions and study the terrain. On the big day, you will be well-rested and fit, with the mind-set needed to succeed in the race.

To make your first 5 km run a success, develop a personalised and progressive training programme, which you should start about 2 months before race day. Combine running sessions with cardio and strength training. Make sure you have comfortable equipment, adapted to your physique and the nature of the terrain. Finally, sleep well and take care of your diet to obtain good performance.