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NEWPORT – Michael “Rusty” Martin Jr., who writes the Forever Fit column for The Miner, is putting the finishing touches on his latest book, “Beyond the Arena: The ultimate high performance guide for rodeo athletes,” set for release this month.
In Beyond the Arena, Martin focuses on virtually all aspects of preparing for a successful career in rodeo. All aspects except how to actually do specific rodeo events. He concentrates on preparation. Martin, who grew up showing horses and roping, knows rodeo. He also knows conditioning, competing at power lifting and holding a number of world championships in that sport. He forgoes technical information on how to win at specific events, leaving that for the many rodeo schools that happen around the country.
After he appeared in a Western Horseman magazine profile last year, he got serious about finishing the book that he’s been working on for about a year.
“I’ve had the idea for quite some time, but after last year’s feature in Western Horseman magazine I decided to focus on it the last year,” Martin says. “I even put my powerlifting career on hold just to get it done.”
As the title says, Martin gives advice on how to prepare to compete outside the arena. He gives advice on nutrition, goal setting, sleep, physical conditioning and travel.
He points out that little things can make a big difference. He writes that while the book is for all athletes and genders, people aged 15-25 will probably benefit the most, as they establish habits that will not only serve them in the arena, but in life as well.
Martin has written another book, “Real Questions, Unreal Results: Rants, Insights, and Lessons Learned from an Overeducated Underachiever, Chronic Procrastinator, Retired Military Veteran, Cowboy and World Champion Powerlifter.” He is a conversational writer.
His aim is straightforward. He maintains that what rodeo athletes do when they’re not competing really counts, that it is the deciding factor in whether or not they are successful at rodeo and life.
“The book takes 50 years of experience, education, and open mindedness from rodeo and other sports preparation and combines them into a guide for rodeo and western sports athletes to greatly improve their performance, general health, and longevity,” Martin says.
