Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 - Team Brunel- Fat muscles

by Team Brunel on 10 Nov 2014 During the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the nine crew members of Team Brunel all lost a number of kilos of muscle mass and fat. Team Brunel has a specialised medical staff in order to ensure that they are fit for the start of the second leg to Abu Dhabi on 19 November. Manual therapist Mark Haak plays an important role, and has previously supported the Ajax footballers and various Olympic athletes in their recuperation.

'At the finish, the men are still pumped up with adrenaline and stress hormones,' Mark explains. 'They still feel reasonably good at that point. It's not until the second day that the tiredness hits them and they lose the muscle coordination in their legs. The switch from top gear to first gear also costs energy. The most important change is their sleeping patterns however. Instead of snatching four hours' sleep, they can now spend a full night in bed during a stopover.'

According to Haak, it's quite normal for the men to lose weight. 'All sailors lose around two to three kilos of muscle mass. What you see is that the lads who have not quite eaten enough start using up other parts of their body as fuel. In the following leg, we'll be gearing the food requirements even more personally. Those who burn the most calories need to replenish their deficits, to avoid the body using up the proteins in muscles. During a stopover, their eating patterns resemble those of patients with stomach problems. This means that we advise them not to eat three large meals, but rather to consume their food in five to six small meals spread throughout the day.'

'You also lose weight if your body core and skin temperature is not consistent. If you're feeling cold, your body will use extra energy to make itself warm again. We've noticed that the younger lads in particular regularly felt the cold. Wearing appropriate clothing is the answer.'

'When on board, the men use other muscle groups, than the ones we need for walking, cycling or climbing stairs on a daily basis. That's why you often see a loss of power and coordination in their legs. The best recuperation method is to keep moving. They mustn't just lie around on the beach or in bed. Keeping active speeds up the recovery process.'

Together with the other two doctors, Mark Haak has established daily schedules comprising various exercises, in order to build up the so-called basal fitness. 'The most important point is the aerobic training, in which the men must exercise at a low heart rate rather than a really high heart rate. We refer to this as the recovery zone, which differs from person to person. It can be achieved by gentle cycling or running, as long as you stay within the prescribed heart rate zone. If you cross that limit, your recovery rate slows. We won't incorporate peak moments which they endure on board, such as operating the winches or quickly running to the front deck, until a few days before the beginning of the next leg. This allows them to fully and optimally recharge their Event website