6 Geese A-Laying

Sleep is important, especially for athletes. Have you ever had a good workout when you're really tired? Personally speaking, I have not, which may be partially due to the fact that I can't even run in a straight line when I don't get enough sleep. But, even if you're not a spaz, you still need your zzz's, as this is when growth hormone is released, which stimulates muscle growth/repair and builds bone mass. The experts say you should get between 7-9hrs... basically, if you can fall asleep right away and don't need an alarm clock to wake up, you're doing good (seriously, is that even possible?!). As little as 20hrs in the hole can serious impact on athletic competition, and the military notes that sleep deprivation results in immediate and rapid degradation of performance. The elite athletes have known this for years... guess that's another thing to add to the list of what separates us! So, what do they do? Nothing special really, they just try and keep their sleep pattern regular (making sure to account for jet lag) and try and clear their mind before going to sleep (easier said than done). For some other tips on sleep hygiene, check out this site.