Racing To Bed For Better Performance World-Class Triathletes Incorp orate Sleep In Daily Training Regime (NAPSA)—Swim...bike...run... SLEEP? Yes, that’s right. Worldclass triathletes Gwen Jorgensen and Melissa Stockwell say that sleep is as important as their training and nutrition routines. Jorgensen and Stockwell represent the U.S. while competing against the world’s best athletes. Both agree that sleep is integral to their athletic performance and rely on Sleep Number beds to ensure individualized comfort. They’ve had very busy competitive seasons and both athletes will represent the United States at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio this summer. Jorgensen, a two- time world champion, has secured multiple World Triathlon Series wins, while Stockwell is a U.S. veteran, mom, Paralympian and three-time world champion. Given the pressure and the travel, you'd think they may want to skimp onsleep to get the most out of every training opportu- nity...but you’d be wrong. The latest sleep scienceis clear: sleep optimizes performance. A study by Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory, published in SLEEP, showed that Stanford University basketball players were able to improve performance by increasing the amountof sleep they got each night. After an initial twoto four-week period of normalsleep, players were askedto increase sleep to 10 hours each night for five to Stockwell with her Purple Star Jorgensen training for her 2016 seven weeks. The additional sleep resulted in faster timed sprints, improved shooting accuracy and decreased reaction times. With the additional sleep, subjects reported improved physical and mental wellbeing during practices and games. “Sleep is often overlookedin training. I take mysleep very seriously metrics—like heart rate and breathing rate—it also offers tips to help mesleep better; like a personal sleep coach!” she said. “Knowing how I slept helps melisten to my body and adjust when I need to rest or push myself in training.” Stockwell also relies on her bed to deliver the sleep she needsin order to maximize her performancein the and her Sleep Numberbed. when I’m preparingfor a triathlon, it’s another discipline of my training,” said Jorgensen. In addition to prioritizing eight hours of shut-eye at night, Jorgensen schedules naps into her triathlon training plan to ensureher body is recovering properly. “I nap 30 minutes orless, six times a week,” she explained. Jorgensen also loves the biometric sleep data provided by SleepIQ technology, which is integrated into her Sleep Number bed. “I am so intrigued that my bed can track my sleep; not only do I know mybio- race season. water, on the bike and on the road. “Our Sleep Numberbedlets my husband and I individualize our comfort—to set separate Sleep Number settings. It has been wonderful to adjust the comfort of my bed as my training intensifies, and we can both sleep comfortably,” said Stockwell. As these athletes gear up for this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, they rest assured knowing that their individualized, comfortable sleep is contributing to their training routine.
