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2006 Averages:

2,315 total participants - male and female

Average number of Push-Ups: 38.27

Average number of Sit-Ups: 51.73

Average number of Pull-Ups: 3.98

source of content: Wikipedia

Stretching is the activity of gradually applying tensile force to lengthen, strengthen, and lubricate muscles, often performed in anticipation of physical exertion and to increase the range of motion within a joint. Stretching is an especially important accompaniment to activities that emphasize controlled muscular strength and flexibility, such as ballet, acrobatics or martial arts.

Stretching is also believed to help to prevent injury to tendons, ligaments and muscles by improving muscular elasticity and reducing the stretch reflex in greater ranges of motion that might cause injury to tissue. In addition, stretching can reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

There is some controversy over the most effective methods of stretching, and whether some stretches, such as ballistic, or "bouncing", stretches, may actually be harmful.

Stretching technique

The most effective stretching targets individual muscles. Most body motions involve a primary muscle (the agonist) assisted by secondary muscles (the synergists), which collectively impose a stretch on the opposing muscle (the antagonist). For example, when bending the leg, the hamstring (agonist) and gastrocnemius (synergist) are contracted, thus stretching the quadriceps (antagonist).

Taking this interrelation of muscle groups into account, a common sequence of stretches is as follows:

1. back
2. neck
3. forearms and wrists
4. triceps
5. chest
6. buttocks
7. groin
8. thighs
9. calf muscles
10. shins
11. hamstrings

Aerobic exercise is complementary to anaerobic exercise. Aerobic literally means "with oxygen", and refers to the use of oxygen in muscles' energy-generating process. Aerobic exercise describes any type of exercise, typically performed at moderate levels of intensity for extended periods of time, that increases the heart rate. Oxygen, fats and glucose are used to produce adenosine triphosphate, the basic fuel for all cells.

There are various types of aerobic exercise. In general, aerobic exercise is one performed at a moderately high level of intensity over a long period of time. For example, running a long distance at a moderate pace is an aerobic exercise, but sprinting is not.

Aerobic exercise confers many health benefits, namely by burning calories very effectively and, if performed regularly, increasing the basal metabolic rate, both of which aid in weight loss. This form of exercise was first promoted by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, in the 1960s, as a type of training designed to strengthen the heart and lungs. When test subjects participated in regular, vigorous aerobic exercise, they gained a number of health benefits, which he collectively called the aerobic 'Training Effect'. These benefits include:

• Strengthening the muscles involved in respiration, to facilitate the flow of air in and out of the lungs;

• Strengthening the heart muscle, to improve its pumping efficiency and reduce the resting heart rate;

• Toning muscles throughout the body, which can improve overall circulation and reduce blood pressure;

• Increasing the total number of red blood cells in the body, to facilitate transport of oxygen throughout the body.

Regular, vigorous aerobic activity can, as a result, reduce the risk of death due to cardiovascular problems. In addition, high-impact aerobic activities (such as jogging or jumping rope) can stimulate bone growth, as well as reducing the risk of osteoporosis for both women and men.

'Aerobics' is a particular form of aerobic exercise. Aerobics classes generally involve rapid stepping patterns, performed to music with cues provided by an instructor. This type of aerobic activity became quite popular after the 1970 publication of Dr. Cooper's book The New Aerobics, and went through a brief period of intense popularity in the 1980s, when many celebrities (such as Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons) produced videos or created television shows promoting this type of aerobic exercise. Group exercise aerobics can be divided into two major types: Freestyle Aerobics and Pre-choreographed Aerobics.

Weight training is a form of exercise for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It is a common type of resistance training, which is one form of strength training. Properly performed, weight training can provide significant functional benefits and improvement in overall health and well-being.

In one common training method, the technique involves lifting progressively increasing amounts of weight, and uses a variety of exercises and types of equipment to target specific muscle groups. Weight training is primarily an anaerobic activity, although some proponents have adapted it to provide the benefits of aerobic exercise.

Weight training differs from bodybuilding, weightlifting, and powerlifting, which are sports rather than forms of exercise. Weight training, however, is often part of their training regimen.

Agility is the ability to change the body's direction efficiently, and this requires a combination of balance, coordination, speed, and strength.

Aside from improving sports performance, why would an individual need to maintain or improve agility? Dodging requires agility, such as jumping out of the way of an oncoming car or avoiding an unexpected hole. If you ever need to run down a crowded street to catch a bus or escape an assailant, agility will help you avoid knocking yourself out on a utility pole or tripping over a dog leash.

60 m

• The 60 meters is normally run indoors, on a section inside an indoor athletic track (which is only 200 m long). As the races last between six and seven seconds, having good reflexes and thus getting off to a quick start is more vital in this race than any other.
• This is roughly the distance required for a human to reach maximum speed and can be run without breathing. It is popular for training and testing in other sports (e.g. speed testing for American football, although 40 yards is more common there).

• The 100 meters is the best-known sprint distance, and alongside the marathon it is arguably athletics' most prestigious event. It takes place on one length of the home straight of a standard outdoor 400 m track. Often, the world-record holder in this race is considered "the world's fastest man/woman".
• This race distance would be hugely different indoors, as the need to go around a tight bend would slow runners down significantly. Either way, it could be run without breathing.
• The 4 by 100 m relay is another prestigious event, with an average speed that is quicker than the 100 m, as the runners can start moving before they receive the baton.
• World Record progression 100 m men

• This begins on the curve of a standard track (where the runners are staggered in their starting position, to ensure they all run the same distance), and ends on the homestraight. The ability to "run a good bend" is key at this distance, as a well conditioned runner will be able to run 200 meters in an average speed higher than his 100 m speed.
• This race is run indoors, as one lap of the track, with only slightly slower times than outdoors.
• Four-person relays are occasionally run at this event.
• A slightly shorter race (but run on a straight track) was the first recorded event at the Ancient Olympics.

400 m

• 400 meters is exactly once around the track on the inside lane, but of course the runners are staggered in their starting position. While this event is a sprint, there is more scope to use tactics in a race - the fact that 400 m times are considerably more than four times 100 m times demonstrate this.
• Relays are commonly held at this event.